JESUS SOTO 1979 Edition 100/110 Op-Art Sculpture Silkscreen Plexiglass & Steel
Limited edition sculpture by Jesus Rafael Soto, (Venezuelan, 1923–2005).
Cuadrados Vibrantes by the artist Rafael Jesús Soto, is a wall-desk sculpture created in a limited edition, back in 1979. The piece of art captures the artist's exploration of optical movement and perception. This work is number 100 from the edition of 110 published by Banco Central de Venezuela, Caracas. Signed and numbered to reverse: [Soto 20/110]. The composition features a series of black, curved lines that radiate outward in a spiral pattern against a white background, creating a compelling illusion of depth and motion. As the viewer’s eye follows the concentric squares, the image appears to pulsate and shift, drawing the eye towards the center in a seemingly endless vortex. Soto, a pioneer in kinetic and Op Art, skillfully uses minimal elements to evoke a powerful visual effect that blurs the boundary between two-dimensional and three-dimensional space. This piece exemplifies Soto’s ability to manipulate perception through precise, repetitive patterns, inviting viewers to engage with the dynamic energy of visual illusion.
Jesús Rafael Soto
With dynamic sculptures and installations composed from synthetic materials, Jesús Rafael Soto helped pioneer Op art and kinetic art. He drew on color theory and the flattened planes of Cubism as he crafted his three-dimensional works from nylon, Perspex, steel, and industrial paint. Thanks to Soto’s keen understanding of geometry and negative space, his works often appear to vibrate or simply shift in space. Soto’s art education took him from his native Venezuela, where he studied in Caracas and directed the Escuela de Bellas Artes in Maracaibo, to Paris, where he associated with experimental artists including Jean Tinguely, Victor Vasarely, Alexander Calder, and Fernand Léger. His work has been shown in New York, London, Paris, São Paulo, Berlin, Caracas, and Tokyo and belongs in the collections of the Museo Reina Sofía, the Tate, the Centre Pompidou, the Stedelijk Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Moderna Museet, and the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Buenos Aires. Soto’s auction prices have reached seven-figure sums.
Country: South America, Caracas, Venezuela.
Style: Kinetic, Op-Art, Modernism.
Period: 1979.
Editor & Publisher: Banco Central de Venezuela, Caracas.
Edition: Limited and closed edition. Numbered 100/110.
Signature: SOTO 100/110.
Medium: Screen-print on Plexiglas, chrome-plated steel.
Art-piece measurements: 390 mm by 390 mm by 140 mm, (15.25 x 15.25 x 5.5 Inches),
Framing specifications: The piece of art is ready to display.
Literature: La Universidad de lo Inmaterial Soto, Museum of Latin American Art exhibition catalog, pg. 62 Soto, Ministerio de Cultura, ppg. 68, 129.
References: WRIGHT Sale June 12, 2014 Lot-179 for one offered (20/110) and sold for 18,750.-
Condition: The overall condition of this Op-art sculpture by Jesus Rafael Soto is excellent. Beside the little normal wear there is no damage and all parts are secured in the frame. This piece of art was carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and authenticity.
INVENTORY REF: D012126TENM/.5564
