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)
Untitled - Neon Study, 1981

Keith Sonnier

Untitled - Neon Study, 1981

Sale Date: November 29, 2018

Auction Closed

Elliptical Shields Series V, 2005

Keith Sonnier

Elliptical Shields Series V, 2005

Sale Date: November 27, 2018

Auction Closed

Green File, 1968

Keith Sonnier

Green File, 1968

Sale Date: October 4, 2018

Auction Closed

UNTITLED, 1971

Keith Sonnier

UNTITLED, 1971

Sale Date: September 25, 2018

Auction Closed

Chandelier Project, 2000

Keith Sonnier

Chandelier Project, 2000

Sale Date: July 18, 2018

Auction Closed

Double Loop, 1989

Keith Sonnier

Double Loop, 1989

Sale Date: July 14, 2018

Auction Closed

THREE-PART STUDY FOR SKYLINE, 1981

Keith Sonnier

THREE-PART STUDY FOR SKYLINE, 1981

Sale Date: March 2, 2018

Auction Closed

Abaca Code - Rectangle VII, 1975–1976

Keith Sonnier

Abaca Code - Rectangle VII, 1975–1976

Sale Date: February 28, 2018

Auction Closed

(2) Prints:

Keith Sonnier

(2) Prints: "Radio-TV", 105/200 & "Clar", 1981

Sale Date: February 16, 2018

Auction Closed

(4) Color Lithographs, 1981

Keith Sonnier

(4) Color Lithographs, 1981

Sale Date: February 16, 2018

Auction Closed

Veiled File I, 1968, 1968

Keith Sonnier

Veiled File I, 1968, 1968

Sale Date: December 19, 2017

Auction Closed

Double Loop, 1989

Keith Sonnier

Double Loop, 1989

Sale Date: December 14, 2017

Auction Closed

Cross Marker (Tidewater Series), 2016

Keith Sonnier

Cross Marker (Tidewater Series), 2016

Sale Date: December 4, 2017

Auction Closed

Elliptical Orbit, 1991

Keith Sonnier

Elliptical Orbit, 1991

Sale Date: December 2, 2017

Auction Closed

ORBIT I, 1978

Keith Sonnier

ORBIT I, 1978

Sale Date: September 13, 2017

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1973

Keith Sonnier

Untitled, 1973

Sale Date: June 4, 2017

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1970

Keith Sonnier

Untitled, 1970

Sale Date: November 23, 2016

Auction Closed

Number 8 (from the New York Collection for..., 1973

Keith Sonnier

Number 8 (from the New York Collection for..., 1973

Sale Date: June 27, 2016

Auction Closed

Holocene Shelf Plates, 2006

Keith Sonnier

Holocene Shelf Plates, 2006

Sale Date: June 1, 2016

Auction Closed

Paleolithic Shelves II, 2006

Keith Sonnier

Paleolithic Shelves II, 2006

Sale Date: May 31, 2016

Auction Closed

Paleolithic Shelves II, 2006

Keith Sonnier

Paleolithic Shelves II, 2006

Sale Date: March 3, 2016

Auction Closed

Holocene Shelf Plates, 2006

Keith Sonnier

Holocene Shelf Plates, 2006

Sale Date: March 3, 2016

Auction Closed

Orbit I (from the Wax-Wan 78 series), 1978

Keith Sonnier

Orbit I (from the Wax-Wan 78 series), 1978

Sale Date: January 28, 2016

Auction Closed

Paleolithic Shelves III, 2006

Keith Sonnier

Paleolithic Shelves III, 2006

Sale Date: September 28, 2015

Auction Closed