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Ben Vautier Art

French, 1935-2024

Benjamin Vautier was born in 1935, in Naples, Italy, to a French family. He was the great-grandson of the Swiss painter Marc Louis Benjamin Vautier (1829–98). He discovered Yves Klein and the Nouveau Réalisme in the 1950s, but he quickly became interested in the French Dada artist Marcel Duchamp and the music of John Cage. 

In 1959, Vautier founded the journal Ben Dieu. In 1960, he had his first one-man show, Rien et tout in Laboratoire 32.

Vautier joined George Maciunas in the Fluxus artistic movement, in October 1962. He was also active in Mail-Art and was mostly known for his text-based paintings or écritures, which began in 1953, with his work Il faut manger. Il faut dormir. Another example of the latter is L'art est inutile. Rentrez chez vous (Art is Useless, Go Home). A notable work made for Harald Szeemann's Documenta 5 exhibition in 1972 shouts, “KUNST IST ÜBERFLÜSSIG” (English: "Art is Superfluous"), and was installed across the top of the Fridericianum museum in Kassel, Germany. 

Vautier long defended the rights of minorities in all countries and was influenced by the theories of François Fontan about ethnism. For example, he defended the Occitan language (southern France). In 1981, he coined the name of the French art movement of the 1980s Figuration Libre (Free Figuration).

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(Biography provided by Gallery 55 TLV)

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Artist: Ben Vautier
Acheter Dieu, 1961 - mixed media, 44x33 cm, framed
By Ben Vautier
Located in Nice, FR
Gouache and technic mixte on paper, signed in the text. Benjamin Vautier was born July 18, 1935 in Naples, Italy to a French family. He is the great-grandson of the Swiss painter Marc Louis Benjamin Vautier [fr] (1829-1898). He discovered Yves Klein and the Nouveau Réalisme in the 1950s, but he became quickly interested in the French dada artist Marcel Duchamp and the music of John Cage. In 1959, Vautier founded the journal Ben Dieu. In 1960, he had his first one-man show, Rien et tout in Laboratoire 32. Ben joined George Maciunas...
Category

1960s Conceptual Ben Vautier Art

Materials

Mixed Media

Prise De Possession Du Tout, 1960 - mixed media, 33x34 cm, framed
By Ben Vautier
Located in Nice, FR
Gouche and technic mixte on paper.signed in the text. Benjamin Vautier was born July 18, 1935 in Naples, Italy to a French family. He is the great-grandson of the Swiss painter Marc Louis Benjamin Vautier [fr] (1829-1898). He discovered Yves Klein and the Nouveau Réalisme in the 1950s, but he became quickly interested in the French dada artist Marcel Duchamp and the music of John Cage. In 1959, Vautier founded the journal Ben Dieu.[2] In 1960, he had his first one-man show, Rien et tout in Laboratoire 32. Ben joined George Maciunas...
Category

1960s Conceptual Ben Vautier Art

Materials

Mixed Media

Au bout des yeux
By Ben Vautier
Located in PARIS, FR
Acrylic on canvas original painting 40 x 70 cm (Encadrée) 38 x 61 cm 15.75 x 27.56 in
Category

1990s French School Ben Vautier Art

Materials

Acrylic

"Mystery Box (Boîte mystère)" Ben Vautier, Fluxus Movement Conceptual Sculpture
By Ben Vautier
Located in New York, NY
Ben Vautier Mystery Box (Boîte mystère), 1965 Painted wood with letterpress label 3 13/16 × 2 3/4 × 2 7/16 inches Ben Vautier was a French artist known for his text-based paintings...
Category

1960s Conceptual Ben Vautier Art

Materials

Wood, Paper

1993 poster "Nous vaincrons" by Ben, Images for the Fight Against AIDS
By Ben Vautier
Located in PARIS, FR
The 1993 poster "Nous vaincrons" by Ben Vautier, commonly known as Ben, represents a striking piece of socially conscious art dedicated to the fight against AIDS. Part of the "Images...
Category

1990s Ben Vautier Art

Materials

Screen

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Previously Available Items
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Ben Vautier art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Ben Vautier art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Ben Vautier in mixed media, felt pen, pen and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 1960s and is mostly associated with the street art style. Not every interior allows for large Ben Vautier art, so small editions measuring 6 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of (André) André Saraiva, Álvaro Verduzco, and Alex Reagan. Ben Vautier art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $500 and tops out at $3,565, while the average work can sell for $3,341.

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