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Val Bertoia Art

American, b. 1949

Val Bertoia was born in Santa Monica, California, in 1949. In the 1950s, his family moved from California to Pennsylvania, where he has lived and worked ever since.

In the 1960s, Bertoia studied mechanical engineering at Indiana Institute of Technology in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. In 1969, he was awarded “Speaker of the Year” at Indiana Tech. In 1971, he was released from Ft. Dix, New Jersey, from the US Army to return back to Pennsylvania.

Bertoia started working at a farm near his home, and soon afterward, his father, Harry Bertoia, asked him to work at Bertoia Studio with him. He worked with his father from 1972–78. The “sound sculpture” environment, which Harry continued to focus on for 10 years beginning in 1968, is trademarked “Sonambient.” Harry and Val installed large-scale commissioned metal sculptures, and Harry was amazed with his son’s level of precision and engineering abilities and often asked his advice.

In the late 1970s, Harry and Val made Bertoia sound sculptures for distribution worldwide. During those six years, Val worked on his own projects, which included wind-electric systems as derivatives of kinetic sculpture models. Harry was an intuitive engineer, and Val's wind systems, the heights of which reached over 90 feet, were refined by Harry and became well-balanced with a U.S. patent.

In 1978, continuing where Harry left off — and with the encouragement of his mother, Brigitta Bertoia — Val proceeded with the sculpture business of his father's legacy. Val Bertoia sculptures made after November 1978, when Harry died, are numbered, starting with “B-01.”

Find authentic Val Bertoia sculptures and decorative objects on 1stDibs.

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Artist: Val Bertoia
Val Bertoia Sonambient Kinetic Sculpture Titled "Sound of V" in Bronze
Val Bertoia Sonambient Kinetic Sculpture Titled "Sound of V" in Bronze

Val Bertoia Sonambient Kinetic Sculpture Titled "Sound of V" in Bronze

By Val Bertoia

Located in Dallas, TX

This sculpture is titled "Sound of V" and is crafted from 60 silicon-bronze rods affixed with silver to a solid brass base. The work was created in 2014 by Val Bertoia at the Bertoia...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Val Bertoia Art

Materials

Brass, Bronze

23" Sound Sculpture

23" Sound Sculpture

By Val Bertoia

Located in Lambertville, NJ

Inscribed with artist's number on base

Category

20th Century Val Bertoia Art

Materials

Metal

Val Bertoia Sonambient Sound Sculpture Titled "Sounds Like a Tall Tower"
Val Bertoia Sonambient Sound Sculpture Titled "Sounds Like a Tall Tower"

Val Bertoia Sonambient Sound Sculpture Titled "Sounds Like a Tall Tower"

By Val Bertoia

Located in Dallas, TX

This sculpture is titled "Sounds Like A Tall Tower" and is crafted from 49 silicon-bronze rods affixed with silver to a solid brass base. The work was created in 2014 by Val Bertoia ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Val Bertoia Art

Materials

Brass, Bronze

"Tube Shape Array with Steel Spokes"
"Tube Shape Array with Steel Spokes"

"Tube Shape Array with Steel Spokes"

By Val Bertoia

Located in Lambertville, NJ

Val Bertoia was born in Santa Monica, California in 1949. In the 1950s, his family moved from California to Pennsylvania where he has lived and worked here ever since. In the1960s, V...

Category

20th Century Abstract Val Bertoia Art

Materials

Brass, Steel

Small 2 Rods
Small 2 Rods

Small 2 Rods

By Val Bertoia

Located in Lambertville, NJ

Inscribed with artist's number on base

Category

20th Century Abstract Val Bertoia Art

Materials

Metal

"Array of Steel Rods with Brass Chimes"
"Array of Steel Rods with Brass Chimes"

"Array of Steel Rods with Brass Chimes"

By Val Bertoia

Located in Lambertville, NJ

Val Bertoia was born in Santa Monica, California in 1949. In the 1950s, his family moved from California to Pennsylvania where he has lived and worked here ever since. In the1960s, V...

Category

20th Century Abstract Val Bertoia Art

Materials

Brass, Steel

"Steel Rods with Brass Cylinder Chimes"
"Steel Rods with Brass Cylinder Chimes"

"Steel Rods with Brass Cylinder Chimes"

By Val Bertoia

Located in Lambertville, NJ

Val Bertoia was born in Santa Monica, California in 1949. In the 1950s, his family moved from California to Pennsylvania where he has lived and worked here ever since. In the1960s, V...

Category

20th Century Abstract Val Bertoia Art

Materials

Brass, Steel

Large Val Bertoia Sonambient Sculpture Titled "2 Walking Squares for Sounds"
Large Val Bertoia Sonambient Sculpture Titled "2 Walking Squares for Sounds"

Large Val Bertoia Sonambient Sculpture Titled "2 Walking Squares for Sounds"

By Val Bertoia

Located in Dallas, TX

This sculpture is titled "2 Walking Squares for Sounds" and is crafted from 60 beryllium-copper rods affixed with silver to a solid brass base in two columns. The work was created in...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Val Bertoia Art

Materials

Brass, Bronze

50 Rods on a Curve

50 Rods on a Curve

By Val Bertoia

Located in Lambertville, NJ

Inscribed with artist's number on base

Category

20th Century Val Bertoia Art

Materials

Metal

Bronze Fountain Sculpture
Bronze Fountain Sculpture

Bronze Fountain Sculpture

By Val Bertoia

Located in Lambertville, NJ

Jim’s of Lambertville is proud to offer this artwork by: Val Bertoia (born 1949) Val Bertoia was born in Santa Monica, California in 1949. In the 1950s, his family moved from Cali...

Category

Late 20th Century Abstract Val Bertoia Art

Materials

Bronze

Spray Sound Sculpture

Spray Sound Sculpture

By Val Bertoia

Located in Lambertville, NJ

Val Bertoia (b. 1949) Val Bertoia was born in Santa Monica, California in 1949 to the artist, Harry Bertoia and his wife, Brigitta Valentiner. The family relocated to Pennsylvania in the 1950s where Bertoia has lived and worked since. In the1960s, Bertoia attended the Indiana Institute of Technology in Fort Wayne, Indiana. After his release from the US Army in Fort Dix, NJ, Bertoia returned to Pennsylvania and began to work at Bertoia Studio with his father. Val worked extensively with his father from 1972 to 1978. The two primarily worked on his father’s Sound Sculpture...

Category

20th Century Val Bertoia Art

Materials

Metal

Copper Wall Relief

Copper Wall Relief

By Val Bertoia

Located in Lambertville, NJ

Val Bertoia (b. 1949) Val Bertoia was born in Santa Monica, California in 1949 to the artist, Harry Bertoia and his wife, Brigitta Valentiner. The family relocated to Pennsylvania i...

Category

1990s Val Bertoia Art

Materials

Copper

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Previously Available Items
36 Rods of Sound in 4 Groups

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Three-sided Tree (Brutalist biomorphic organic abstract bronze sculpture)
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Val Bertoia Art

Val Bertoia art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Val Bertoia art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Val Bertoia in metal, brass, steel and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the abstract style. Not every interior allows for large Val Bertoia art, so small editions measuring 5 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Richard Heinrich, Peter Reginato, and Matt Shlian. Val Bertoia art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $8,700 and tops out at $48,125, while the average work can sell for $14,375.

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