NEW YORK, NY.- The Hispanic Society Museum & Library (HSM&L) – the primary institution dedicated to the preservation, study, understanding, exhibition and enjoyment of art and cultures of Portuguese and Spanish-speaking countries and communities – and the Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros (CPPC), reveal Jesús Rafael Soto's interactive sculpture Penetrable (1990) to the public, installed in the HSM&L’s Upper Terrace this Summer. Celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the birth of the Venezuelan artist, the installation of Penetrable at the HSM&L marks the first time a sculpture from Soto’s Penetrables series will be showcased outdoors to be experienced by New York City’s diverse audiences.

The Penetrable (1990), on long-term loan from the CPPC, will be installed in the HSM&L’s Upper Terrace located in Upper Manhattan on the west side of Broadway between 155th and 156th Streets. This collaboration continues the artwork's journey, following two decades of loans at prominent institutions across the Americas including: the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (2003); The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (2004); Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City (2006); Blanton Museum of Art at The University of Texas at Austin (2007); Los Angeles County Museum of Art (2011‒ 2017); and Olana State Historic Site in Hudson, New York (2017‒ 2018).

Soto, a visionary artist from Venezuela, played a pivotal role in the development of Kinetic Art in Paris during the 1950s and 1960s, as well as in the Geometric Abstraction movement in his home country. His work was characterized by a connection to landscape, perception, and interactivity with viewers, resulting in immersive experiences that blurred the boundaries between art and its audiences.

The HSM&L reopened its Main Building and Upper Terrace on May 25, 2023. With greater accessibility and improved facilities, the HSM&L’s current exhibition in the Main Court focuses on the commemoration of Joaquín Sorolla (1863-1923) and Jesús Rafael Soto’s (1923-2005) Centennials as well as the debut of two new exhibitions: Jewels in a Gem: Luz Camino at the Hispanic Society in Sorolla’s Vision of Spain Gallery and In Search of Juan de Pareja: From Arturo Schomburg to Jas Knight in the project gallery.

The Hispanic Society Museum & Library (HSM&L) is the primary institution and reference library dedicated solely to the preservation, study, understanding, exhibition and enjoyment of art and cultures of Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries and communities. Located in Upper Manhattan in the dynamic Washington Heights neighborhood, the institution has, since its inception, remained free of charge, providing unrivaled access to the most extensive collection of Hispanic art and literature outside of Spain and Latin America. 

The HSM&L’s permanent collection is unparalleled in its scope and quality, with half a million items that address nearly every aspect of cultures in Spain, Portugal and Latin America from antiquity to present day. HSM&L is unmatched in the multi-disciplinarity and broad historical and geographical extension of its art collection and library, highlighting Hispanic art and cultures’ incredible breadth as seen through its diverse religious, cultural and geographical influences. The collection includes masterworks by El Greco, Velázquez, Rodríguez Juárez, Goya, Campeche, Arrieta, Sorolla, Orozco and Tàpies; sculptures by Pedro de Mena, Luisa Roldán and Caspicara and masterpieces in all areas of the decorative arts. The collections of the Department of Manuscripts and Rare Books are among the most extensive outside Spain and the library is available as a preeminent center for research on the history, art, and cultures of the Hispanic world. It is open to the public by appointment.

Founded in 1904 by American scholar, philanthropist and collector Archer M. Huntington, the HSM&L was established on the premise of a passion and curiosity for Hispanic and Latin American art, cultures and history. While the HSM&L is one of the most historic cultural institutions in New York City, the organization has continued to adapt and serve the local community and growing Hispanic and Latino populations in the United States at large, opening its doors to inspire, enrich and educate the public.

Under the stewardship of CEO and Director Guillaume Kientz and in the spirit of inclusivity, HSM&L makes a fervent commitment to give voice to and provide space for Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking communities and cultures. Through special exhibitions, a permanent collection, loans, education, support of living artists, public programming and research, the HSM&L continues to reimagine the potential for a museum and its ability to incite greater change.

Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros:

The Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros (CPPC) was founded in the 1970s by Patricia Phelps de Cisneros and Gustavo A. Cisneros and is based in New York City and Caracas. Their daughter, Adriana Cisneros de Griffin joined as President of the organization in 2008. The CPPC’s mission is to increase understanding and awareness of Latin America's contributions to the history of art and culture, and to support innovation, education, creativity, and research in the field of Latin American art with a focus on freedom of expression as a key facet of democratic values.