Keith Sonnier
(American, 1941-2020) Keith Sonnier was an American artist best known for his pioneering work in light-based sculpture, particularly using neon, alongside unconventional materials like fabric, aluminum, and glass. Sonnier rose to prominence in the 1960s as part of the Post-Minimalist movement, which rejected the austerity of Minimalism in favor of more experimental and playful approaches…
Keith Sonnier
(American, 1941-2020)
Keith Sonnier was an American artist best known for his pioneering work in light-based sculpture, particularly using neon, alongside unconventional materials like fabric, aluminum, and glass.
Sonnier rose to prominence in the 1960s as part of the Post-Minimalist movement, which rejected the austerity of Minimalism in favor of more experimental and playful approaches to art. Employing unusual materials that had never before been used, Sonnier, along with his contemporaries, Bruce Nauman, Richard Tuttle, Eva Hesse, Richard Serra, and Barry Le Va, called all previous conceptions of sculpture into question. He was one of the first artists to incorporate neon as a primary medium, blending industrial materials with organic forms to create dynamic, glowing sculptures. His works often evoked an ethereal sense of space and light, expanding the possibilities of sculpture by engaging the viewer’s perception and surroundings.
In addition to his light sculptures, Sonnier also explored video, sound, and large-scale installations. His public commissions include large neon installations at airports and urban spaces around the world.
Sonnier’s work has been exhibited in major solo exhibtions, including the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris (1979); P.S. 1 Institute for Art and Urban Resources, Long Island City (1983); Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C. (1989); Sprengel Museum, Hanover (1993); Parrish Art Museum, Southampton, New York (1999); Kunsthaus Bregenz, Austria (1999); Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin (2003); the Hall Art Foundation, Reading, Vermont (2015); Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain, Nice (2015); and Parrish Art Museum, Water Mill, New York (2018).