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

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Keith Sonnier (210 results)
Lichtwege (2 works), 1992

Keith Sonnier

Lichtwege (2 works), 1992

Sale Date: May 25, 2012

Auction Closed

No KKK, 1990

Keith Sonnier

No KKK, 1990

Sale Date: April 28, 2012

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1968

Keith Sonnier

Untitled, 1968

Sale Date: March 28, 2012

Auction Closed

Brahea, 1999

Keith Sonnier

Brahea, 1999

Sale Date: March 11, 2012

Auction Closed

Veiled file I, 1968

Keith Sonnier

Veiled file I, 1968

Sale Date: February 15, 2012

Auction Closed

Study for Ba-o-Ba, 1969

Keith Sonnier

Study for Ba-o-Ba, 1969

Sale Date: January 23, 2012

Auction Closed

Lichtraum

Attributed to Keith Sonnier

Lichtraum

Sale Date: December 7, 2011

Auction Closed

Video still screen (1d) (+ 2 others; 3 works), 1973

Keith Sonnier

Video still screen (1d) (+ 2 others; 3 works), 1973

Sale Date: December 11, 2011

Auction Closed

Syzygy Transmitter, 1991–1992

Keith Sonnier

Syzygy Transmitter, 1991–1992

Sale Date: November 26, 2011

Auction Closed

Elliptical Orbit (+ another; 2 works), 1991

Keith Sonnier

Elliptical Orbit (+ another; 2 works), 1991

Sale Date: October 1, 2011

Auction Closed

Lichtweg Blau (+ Lichtweg Grün; 2 works), 1992

Keith Sonnier

Lichtweg Blau (+ Lichtweg Grün; 2 works), 1992

Sale Date: June 11, 2011

Auction Closed

Meridian codex: print one, 1992

Keith Sonnier

Meridian codex: print one, 1992

Sale Date: May 16, 2011

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1960–1969

Keith Sonnier

Untitled, 1960–1969

Sale Date: May 15, 2011

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1981

Keith Sonnier

Untitled, 1981

Sale Date: May 13, 2009

Auction Closed

The number 8, 1973

Keith Sonnier

The number 8, 1973

Sale Date: July 23, 2009

Auction Closed

The New York collection for Stockholm, 1973

Keith Sonnier

The New York collection for Stockholm, 1973

Sale Date: June 17, 2010

Auction Closed

Holocene shelf plate, 2006

Keith Sonnier

Holocene shelf plate, 2006

Sale Date: December 14, 2010

Auction Closed

Meridian codex: print two, 1992

Keith Sonnier

Meridian codex: print two, 1992

Sale Date: October 8, 2009

Auction Closed

Sans titre

Keith Sonnier

Sans titre

Sale Date: June 1, 2010

Auction Closed

Depose II, 1997

Keith Sonnier

Depose II, 1997

Sale Date: May 14, 2010

Auction Closed

Color print in negative one, Tina and Susan, 1971

Keith Sonnier

Color print in negative one, Tina and Susan, 1971

Sale Date: January 31, 2010

Auction Closed

Scraper II, 1989

Keith Sonnier

Scraper II, 1989

Sale Date: December 10, 2009

Auction Closed

NY - LA, 1975

Keith Sonnier

NY - LA, 1975

Sale Date: December 12, 2009

Auction Closed

Elliptical orbit (2 works), 1991

Keith Sonnier

Elliptical orbit (2 works), 1991

Sale Date: December 5, 2009

Auction Closed

English (US)

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