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Jesus-Rafael Soto
(1923-2005)
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| Jesus-Rafael Soto
was born in Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela and became known
in the art world as a prominent Kinetic artist, and
perhaps even as the founder of this fluid type of art.
By Kinetic, this means that his work seemed to move and
flow, though it was usually made by normal means and
mediums. Soto is also considered one of the forerunners
for the Geometric movement in Venezuelan art. |
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Barcelona, 1992
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Working in the Op Art
movement, Soto’s work was very modern and as the term
implies, optical in nature. Many of his pieces were
large installation works or mobiles, but he also created
a number of optical paintings, much like ones you would
see in professional offices in the 1980s, as well as
etchings and prints. |
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Vibration, 1962, Oil on Wood
Untitled etching
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Soto’s early training
was at the School of Fine Arts in Caracas, Venezuela,
and not surprisingly, his earliest influences were based
on Cubism and Cezanne. Through the 1940s Soto taught at
the Maracaibo School of Fine Arts where he even became
the director. Upon his move to Paris in the 1950s his
art took on a distinctly geometric style. During this
time, Soto also worked as a professional musician and
played the guitar for a number of Latin American
singers. Born into a family of poor musicians, this was
not a surprising early occupation for Soto. |
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Untitled
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It is said that during
this initial move to Paris, Soto was also highly
influenced by Alexander Calder and his mobiles. This was
surely the key influence for Soto in creating his
geometric, kinetic and space-friendly pieces. |
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Sphere installation piece
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Though perhaps he is
best known for his installation pieces, Soto is known
for his geometric prints as well. There is little known
about his early work pre-Paris, and it would be
intriguing to find one of his pieces done with a Cubist
hand or in the style of Cezanne.
It has been said that Soto’s installation pieces seemed
to interact with the space they were created for, and
can be found all over the world. Soto continued to
create work well into the 21st century, so newer pieces
of his may surely be in someone’s possession. Optical
illusions done in black and white, 3D images painted on
plexiglass and prints covered in colorful squares are
all indicative of Soto’s work. |
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Spiral, 1950
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Soto died of cancer at
his home in Paris in March of 2005. Some of his most
prominent installation pieces can be seen at the
Pompidou Centre in Paris at banks and government
buildings worldwide. There is also a museum of his
masterworks at The Museum of Modern Art Jesus Soto in
his home town of Ciudad Bolivar. |
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Installation piece, Toronto
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Think that you may own
a piece of art by Jesus-Rafael Soto? We can help you
find the answer. We authenticate, appraise and research
all works by Jesus-Rafael Soto. |
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Cuadrados Sobre Blanco Y Rayado
Tes Pequenas Blancas Y Negras, 1979 |
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