Soto, Jesús Raphael

Jesús Rafael Soto (1923-2005) was born in Ciudad Bolívar in Venezuela. He started his career as a painter but later got interested in other art forms. In 1950 he moved to Paris and from 1954 he mostly made kinetic sculptures and also designed jewellery. He is known for his linear kinetic constructions, some made of metal rods in which the experience of the spectator within the installation is the main focus. In 1973 a museum opens in Ciudad Bolívar dedicated to his oeuvre but his work can be found in many museums and collections worldwide.