Keith Sonnier facts for kids

Keith Sonnier (born July 31, 1941 – died July 18, 2020) was an American artist known for his unique sculptures and art installations. He was one of the first artists to use electric lights, especially neon, in his sculptures during the 1960s. His art often combined bright lights with everyday materials, making him famous around the world. Sonnier was part of art movements called Postminimalism and Process Art.

About Keith Sonnier

James Keith Sonnier was born on July 31, 1941, in a town called Mamou, Louisiana. His family was Cajun and Roman Catholic. His father owned a hardware store, and his mother was a florist and a singer.

Keith went to college at Southwestern Louisiana Institute, which is now known as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He graduated in 1963. In 1966, he earned his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree from Rutgers University. There, he studied with famous artists like Allan Kaprow and Robert Morris. After graduating, he moved to New York City with some of his classmates.

At the time of his death, he lived in Bridgehampton, New York. Keith Sonnier passed away in Southampton, New York, on July 18, 2020, at the age of 78.

Sonnier's Art and Materials

Keith Sonnier started experimenting with neon lights in 1968. Neon lights soon became a special material he used in many of his sculptures. He was known for using different kinds of lights, like neon and fluorescent lights.

He also used other materials in his art, such as shiny reflective surfaces, aluminum, copper, glass, and wires. His art often explored how light interacts with these materials and the space around them.

Personal Life

In 1966, Keith Sonnier married another sculptor named Jackie Winsor. She was also an art student at Rutgers University. Their marriage ended in 1980.

Later, in 1987, he married Nessia Leonzini Pope. This marriage ended in 1998. Keith Sonnier had one child from his second marriage.