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.
Mid Century Modern Floor Sound Sculpture by Val Bertoia in Copper & Brass
By Val Bertoia
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A stunning sound sculpture made by Val Bertoia. Makes a beautiful chime when played. Comprised of brass and beryllium copper. Gorgeous patina and comes with COA from the Bertoia Studio.
Brass, Copper
Bertoia Sonambient Sculpture Beryllium Rod
By Val Bertoia
Located in Wilmington, DE
Bertoia Sonambient sculpture. Offered is a beautifully unique sculpture by Bertoia studios (Val). Titled "4 Love Clover of Sound". The piece is made of Beryllium Copper...
Brass, Copper
Large Bertoia Studios 10-Rod 'B-2700' Brass, Copper & Silver Sound Sculpture
By Harry Bertoia, Val Bertoia
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Bertoia Studios 10-Rod 'B-2700' Brass, Copper & Silver Sound Sculpture. A lyrical and musical sound sculpture with certificate of authenticity signed b...
Silver, Brass, Copper
Val Bertoia Double Vertical Spray Sculpture, Steel Wires with Brass Base, 2014
By Val Bertoia, Harry Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Val Bertoia's Double Vertical Spray Sculpture made in 2014. This Kinetic sculpture was made by cutting one grouping of stainless-steel wires that were made by Har...
Brass, Stainless Steel
Val Bertoia ""Sounds Fine from 6 in Line" B-2702 Sculpture
By Val Bertoia
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large Bertoia Studios B-2702 6 Rod "Sounds Fine From 6 In Line" sculpture with certificate of authenticity signed by Val, the artist and son of the original designer, Harry Bertoia. ...
Bronze, Copper
$62,500 / set
Val Bertoia Sound Sculptures, 2012
By Val Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Val Bertoia's pair of Sound Sculptures made in 2012 are part of the Bertoia Sonambient series. The full circle piece is made of 10 ...
Brass, Copper
Suspended Brass Gong Titled "Orion" Depicting the Constellation By Val Bertoia
By Val Bertoia
Located in Dallas, TX
Orion Gong, an early work by Val Bertoia, 24" in diameter. It was constructed of brass with an applied patina. The brass is pierced with a depiction of the constellation of Orion.
Brass
Val Bertoia Relaxing Spray Sculpture, 2014
By Harry Bertoia, Val Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Val Bertoia's Relaxing Spray Sculpture made in 2014. This kinetic sculpture is made of two groupings of stainless-steel wires that were made by Harry Bertoia (cir...
Steel
Large Bertoia Studios 24-Rod 'Star of Sound / B-2482' Copper & Brass Sculpture
By Val Bertoia, Harry Bertoia
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Bertoia Studios 24-rod 'Star of Sound B-2482' copper & brass sculpture. A lyrical and musical sound sculpture with certificate of authenticity signed by Val, the artist and son of the original designer, Harry Bertoia. Hand made at the original Bertoia...
Silver, Brass, Copper
"Strum to Hum the Boomerang of Sound" Sonambient Sculpture by Val Bertoia
By Val Bertoia
Located in Los Angeles, CA
"Strum to Hum the Boomerang of Sound" is a sonambient sculpture by Val Bertoia consisting of 50 beryllium copper rods which strike together and chime when touched by hand or by the w...
Brass, Copper
Val Bertoia Sonambient Sculpture "Buffalo Shaped Sound"
By Val Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
"Buffalo Shaped Sound" A kinetic Sonambient sculpture by Val Bertoia composed of 122 Beryllium rods silvered to solid brass mounted on wood stand. The 122 purple tipped beryllium ro...
Brass
Val Bertoia Mid Century Aluminum Racing Tortoise Sculpture
By Val Bertoia
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Val Bertoia Mid Century Aluminum Racing Tortoise Sculpture This sculpture measures: 10.5 wide x 10 deep x 5 inches high Excellent Vintage Condition. We take our photos in a contro...
Aluminum
Large Bertoia Studios 32-Rod 'Sounding Chess / B-2466' Copper & Brass Sculpture
By Val Bertoia, Harry Bertoia
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Bertoia Studios 32-Rod 'Sounding Chess / B-2466' copper & brass sculpture. A lyrical and musical sound sculpture with certificate of authenticity signed by Val, the artist and son of the original designer, Harry Bertoia. Hand made at the original Bertoia...
Silver, Brass, Copper
Val Bertoia Corner Sound Sculpture, 2008
By Val Bertoia, Harry Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Val Bertoia's Corner Sound Sculpture made in 2008 is part of the Bertoia Sonambient series. It's made of 11 copper tops silvered to monel rods then silvered to a ...
Brass, Copper
$2,500
H 48.04 in W 7.49 in D 7.49 in
Sonambient Cattails Sound Sculpture in the Manner of Harry Bertoia
By Harry Bertoia
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Vintage Sonambient cattails sound sculpture in the manner of Harry Bertoia circa 1970. It is in great vintage condition with patina throughout, four rows of four copper colored sound...
Metal, Brass
Bronze Head Sculpture
Located in Long Island City, NY
This bronze head sculpture signed by artist O. Ramsburg can be displayed as an elegant table top art piece.
Bronze
$18,400
H 25 in W 21.5 in D 6 in
"Strum to Hum the Boomerang of Sound" Sonambient Sculpture by Val Bertoia
By Val Bertoia
Located in Los Angeles, CA
"Strum to Hum the Boomerang of Sound" is a sonambient sculpture by Val Bertoia consisting of 50 beryllium copper rods which strike together and chime when touched by hand or by the w...
Brass, Copper
$4,800
H 43 in W 22 in D 8 in
Large Modernist Abstract Sculpture, Wire Rod and Stolit Manner of Lynn Chadwick
By Lynn Chadwick
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large modernist abstract sculpture. Wire rod and stolit, unsigned, extremely well executed, circa 1950 after Lynn Chadwick who after WWI developed a construction method using welded ...
Wire
Mexican Copper Brass and Abalone Grasshopper Centerpiece Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Hand-wrought circa 1960s copper and brass grasshopper centerpiece sculpture with abalone inlay eyes and legs. Signed underneath, COBRE MEXICO. Also ...
Brass, Copper
Harry Bertoia Steel Wire Sculpture 1975
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Chicago, IL
Harry Bertoia Steel Wire Sculpture 1975 unique Table Top piece Steel wires intricately welded with stainless steel rod and base. The work has been added to the Harry Bertoia Catalogu...
Cut Steel, Stainless Steel
$1,634 / set
H 22.45 in W 14.57 in D 4.73 in
Exclusive Set of Extra Large ‘Bambi’ Brass Deer Sculptures, France, 1970s
Located in Voorburg, NL
Exclusive and graceful brass extra large set of Deer designed in the 1970s in France. Large and solid brass ‘Bambi’ sculpture in an excellent vintage condi...
Brass
Midcentury Harry Bertoia Sonambient Sculpture
By Harry Bertoia
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Midcentury Harry Bertoia Sonambient sculpture featuring seven black monel "cat-tail" tops silvered to beryllium. Copper rods silvered to brass base. In fin...
Brass, Copper
$756
H 41.34 in W 11.82 in D 3.55 in
Mid-Century Modern Brass, Copper and Enamel Mobile by Cesar Vasquez
By Cesar
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Hand crafted bronze, brass and enamel wall hanging or mobile by Chilean artist Cesar Vasquez.
Brass, Copper, Enamel
$2,584Sale Price|20% Off
H 39 in W 9 in D 9 in
Large 9 Rod Sonambient Sculpture in the Style of Harry Bertoia
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Culver City, CA
Picture this: a tall, elegant sculpture that pays homage to the legendary Harry Bertoia but with its own twist. While Bertoia's original sonambient sculptures are famous for their de...
Steel
Val Bertoia Corner Sound Sculpture, 2008
By Val Bertoia, Harry Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Val Bertoia's Corner Sound Sculpture made in 2008 is part of the Bertoia Sonambient series. It's made of 11 copper tops silvered to monel rods then silvered to a ...
Brass, Copper
Curtis Jere Brass Wire "Schooner" Table Top Sculpture with Base, 1976
By Artisan House, Curtis Jeré
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Signed early version C. Jere 1976 Brass Wire Yacht Sculpture, Brass Sailboat Sculpture by Artisan House. Featuring a one piece three dimensional Sloop ...
Brass
Panel Mushroom Sculpture by Val Bertoia
By Val Bertoia
Located in Dallas, TX
Panel mushroom sculpture, early work by Val Bertoia. Melted bronze shot into panel as mushroom head on heat pressed copper tube stem on bronze shot melted base. Sold with COA. Beauti...
Bronze
Val Bertoia Sound Spray Prototype Sculpture
By Val Bertoia
Located in Dallas, TX
This sounding spray sculpture was created by artist Val Bertoia in the Harry Bertoia studio. This work consists of approximately 100 beryllium copper rods silvered to brass plate in...
Brass, Copper
Sold
H 50 in W 11 in D 11 in
Large Bertoia Studios 13-Rod 'Move Around Clock of Sound B-2719' Metal Sculpture
By Harry Bertoia, Val Bertoia
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Bertoia Studios 13-Rod 'Move Around Clock of Sound B-2719' Metal Sculpture. A lyrical and musical sound sculpture with certificate of authenticity signed by Val, the artist and...
Silver, Brass, Copper
20th Century Val Bertoia Sounding Sculpture 'B2398'
By Val Bertoia
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sounding sculpture by Val Bertoia (marked B2398). Made from bronze and brass. United States, 20th century. Dimensions: 51.5"H x 11"W x 11"D.
Brass, Bronze
Sold
H 44 in W 12 in D 11 in
Val Bertoia "Two Alphabets Per Year of Sound" Sounding Sculpture # B-2652
By Val Bertoia
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Sounding sculpture by Val Bertoia, American (born 1949). Titled 2 alphabets per year of sound. Comprised of 26 + 26 "cat-tail" tops silvered to beryllium copper rods...
Brass, Copper
Large Bertoia Studios 12-Rod 'Star of Sounds / B-2369' Brass Sculpture
By Harry Bertoia, Val Bertoia
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Bertoia Studios 12-Rod 'Star of Sounds / B-2369' brass sculpture. A lyrical and musical sound sculpture with certificate of authenticity signed by Val, the artist and son of the original designer, Harry Bertoia. Hand made at the original Bertoia...
Silver, Brass, Copper
Sold
H 42 in W 9.5 in D 9.5 in
Tall Mid Century Modern Floor Sound Sculpture by Val Bertoia in Copper & Brass
By Val Bertoia
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A stunning tall sound sculpture made by Val Bertoia. Makes a beautiful chime when played. Comprised of brass and beryllium copper. Stamped and numbered with COA from Bertoia Studio.
Brass, Copper
Val Bertoia Sounding Sculpture B2398, 20th Century
By Val Bertoia
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Val Bertoia sounding sculpture B2398. Bronze and brass. United States / 20th century.
Brass, Bronze, Copper
Val Bertoia Sounding Sculpture B2390, 20th Century
By Val Bertoia
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Val Bertoia sounding sculpture B2390. Bronze and Brass. United States / 20th century.
Brass, Bronze, Copper
Val Bertoia 17 Rod Sonambient Kinetic Sound Sculpture
By Val Bertoia
Located in Buffalo, NY
Val Bertoia Sonambient kinetic sound sculpture, "Statue of Moving Sounds", 17 silicon-bronze rods, in a 3-row design silvered to brass base. “Ce...
Silver, Brass, Bronze
Sold
H 37.5 in W 30 in D 7 in
Val Bertoia Linear Four-Row Copper and Brass Sonambient Sculpture, USA 2018
By Val Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
A great form this sonambient sculpture by Val Bertoia possesses the finest qualities of sound and movement the sculptures are known for. The length of each rod allows for maximum swa...
Brass, Copper
Large Val Bertoia 15-Rod "Curve of Sounding Cat Tails" Sculpture
By Harry Bertoia, Val Bertoia
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Val Bertoia 15-Rod "Curve of Sounding Cat Tails" sculpture. A lyrical and musical sound sculpture with certificate of authenticity signed by the artist and son of the original ...
Silver, Brass, Copper