Keith Sonnier

(American, 1941–2020)

Keith Sonnier was a contemporary American artist known for his pioneering light sculptures. Employing materials such as latex, neon, and found objects, Sonnier achieved a drawing-like quality with his sculptures. “I love light in my work but I was never influenced by neon signage in itself, rather its effect on nature and architecture,” he once explained. Born on July 31, 1941 in Mamou, LA, he received his BA from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1963, and his MFA from Rutgers University in 1966. It was during his time at Rutgers, that Sonnier became influenced by Robert Morris. By the late 1960s, he along with his peers Bruce Nauman and Dan Flavin, began employing neon tube lights in their work. Over the years, he incorporated materials used by other cultures into sculptural installations. Sonnier passed away on July 18, 2020 at the age of 78. His works are held in the collections of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, among others.

Keith Sonnier Artworks

Keith Sonnier (210 results)
Elliptical Shields Series V / Circular suite , 2005

Keith Sonnier

Elliptical Shields Series V / Circular suite , 2005

Sale Date: November 28, 2023

Auction Closed

Elliptical Shields Series V / Octogonal..., 2005

Keith Sonnier

Elliptical Shields Series V / Octogonal..., 2005

Sale Date: November 28, 2023

Auction Closed

Untitled (Sculpture Study), 1986

Keith Sonnier

Untitled (Sculpture Study), 1986

Sale Date: August 26, 2023

Auction Closed

Ridge tuck, 1966

Keith Sonnier

Ridge tuck, 1966

Sale Date: June 16, 2023

Auction Closed

Kod, 1966

Keith Sonnier

Kod, 1966

Sale Date: June 16, 2023

Auction Closed

Circular Suite #9, from Elliptical Shields..., 2005

Keith Sonnier

Circular Suite #9, from Elliptical Shields..., 2005

Sale Date: June 8, 2023

Auction Closed

Octagonal Suite #5, from Elliptical Shields..., 2005

Keith Sonnier

Octagonal Suite #5, from Elliptical Shields..., 2005

Sale Date: June 8, 2023

Auction Closed

Elliptical Suite #8, from Elliptical Shields , 2005

Keith Sonnier

Elliptical Suite #8, from Elliptical Shields , 2005

Sale Date: June 8, 2023

Auction Closed

S.T. (Syzyhy Transmitter), 1992

Keith Sonnier

S.T. (Syzyhy Transmitter), 1992

Sale Date: June 22, 2023

Auction Closed

U Beam Variation #10 , 1999

Keith Sonnier

U Beam Variation #10 , 1999

Sale Date: May 20, 2023

Auction Closed

Holocene Shelf Plates (99)

Keith Sonnier

Holocene Shelf Plates (99)

Sale Date: May 6, 2023

Auction Closed

Paleolithic Shelves (34)

Keith Sonnier

Paleolithic Shelves (34)

Sale Date: May 6, 2023

Auction Closed

Ballroom Chandelier, 2010

Keith Sonnier

Ballroom Chandelier, 2010

Sale Date: December 14, 2022

Auction Closed

Video Still Series I-V, 1973

Keith Sonnier

Video Still Series I-V, 1973

Sale Date: December 5, 2022

Auction Closed

Elliptical Shields Series V AP II, 2005

Keith Sonnier

Elliptical Shields Series V AP II, 2005

Sale Date: September 21, 2022

Auction Closed

Three-Part Study for Skyline, 1981

Keith Sonnier

Three-Part Study for Skyline, 1981

Sale Date: August 18, 2022

Auction Closed

Untitled - Neon Study, 1981

Keith Sonnier

Untitled - Neon Study, 1981

Sale Date: April 14, 2022

Auction Closed

5 WORKS ON PAPER, 1980–1981

Keith Sonnier

5 WORKS ON PAPER, 1980–1981

Sale Date: March 17, 2022

Auction Closed

Ubud Study, 1983

Keith Sonnier

Ubud Study, 1983

Sale Date: March 9, 2022

Auction Closed

Untitled, (from the Ba-O-Ba series), 1974

Keith Sonnier

Untitled, (from the Ba-O-Ba series), 1974

Sale Date: November 11, 2021

Auction Closed

Sconce, 2006

Keith Sonnier

Sconce, 2006

Sale Date: October 23, 2021

Auction Closed

STANDING SPHINX - 1989, 1989

Keith Sonnier

STANDING SPHINX - 1989, 1989

Sale Date: June 28, 2021

Auction Closed

Frankfurt Dyad III, 1989

Keith Sonnier

Frankfurt Dyad III, 1989

Sale Date: July 1, 2021

Auction Closed

Halo, 2002

Keith Sonnier

Halo, 2002

Sale Date: June 12, 2021

Auction Closed