Jesús Rafael Soto (1923–2005) was a Venezuelan artist and a pioneering figure in Op and Kinetic Art. Born in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela, Soto began his artistic career early, creating posters for cinemas and later studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Caracas. He moved to Paris in the 1950s, where he became associated with artists like Jean Tinguely and Victor Vasarely. Soto's work is characterized by its use of geometric forms and movement, often incorporating materials like perspex sheets and suspended rods to create interactive installations known as "Penetrables." His innovative approach allowed viewers to engage with his art by walking through it, revolutionizing the way people experience sculpture. Soto's works are held in major museums worldwide, including the Tate, Centre Pompidou, and MoMA, and he founded the Museum of Modern Art in Ciudad Bolívar, now named after him