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trending_up market calendar_today Tuesday, May 20, 2025

artnet auctions contemporary editions jesus rafael soto 2646188

Artnet Auctions is offering five works by Venezuelan kinetic and Op art pioneer Jesús Rafael Soto (1923–2005) in its Contemporary Editions sale, open for bidding through May 29, 2025. The lots include *Multiple #4 (from Jai Alai)* (1969, est. $8,000–$12,000), *Permutación (from Serie Sintesis)* (1979, est. $6,000–$8,000), and *Tes Azules y Negras (from Serie Sintesis)* (1979, est. $7,000–$10,000), each exemplifying Soto's signature blend of optical illusion, physical layering, and kinetic elements.

This sale matters because it brings renewed attention to Soto's critical role in the development of Op and kinetic art—movements that challenged traditional boundaries between painting and sculpture. By making his works accessible at relatively accessible estimates, the auction invites both seasoned collectors and new buyers to engage with a historically significant artist whose influence on abstraction and perceptual art endures. The timing also coincides with ongoing institutional recognition, as the Jesús Soto Museum of Modern Art in his hometown continues to preserve his legacy.