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).
Find Benjamin Vautier art on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by Gallery 55 TLV)
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...
Screen
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...
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...
Mixed Media
$1,000
"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...
Wood, Paper
Damien Hirst "Psalm: Domine, Dominus noster"
By Damien Hirst
Located in Boston, MA
Artist: Hirst, Damien Title: Psalm: Domine, Dominus noster Series: Psalm Date: 2009 Medium: Silkscreen with glazes and diamond dust, on wove paper Unframed Dimensions: 29" x 28...
Glaze, Screen, Mixed Media
$2,980
H 8.51 in W 11.03 in
Josef Albers -- Homage to the Square Josef Albers Catalog Inserts
By Josef Albers
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Collection of inserts from the exhibition catalog, Homage to the Square: 40 New Paintings by Josef Albers, which took place at Sidney Janis Gallery, New York, 1964. Sold as a set of...
Screen
$1,200
H 34.5 in W 28.25 in D 1 in
"Dimensions VI (I)", Abstract Geometric Serigraph in Colors, Signed
By Jack Sonenberg
Located in Astoria, NY
Jack Sonenberg (Canadian/American, 1925-2012), "Dimensions VI (I)", Serigraph in Colors, titled and numbered edition "11/50" lower left, signed in pencil lower right, silver-tone fra...
Paper, Screen
Victor Vasarely -- Vaar from the album Diam
By Victor Vasarely
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Victor Vasarely Vaar from the album Diam, 1988 Serigraph in colors on paper Hand signed lower right Numbered 35/250 Sheet size 70 x 62 cm Published by : AC Mazo - Paris Printed by : ...
Screen
Victor Vasarely -- Folkokta the album Diam
By Victor Vasarely
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Victor Vasarely Folkokta from the album Diam, 1988 Serigraph in colors on paper Hand signed lower right Numbered 35/250 Sheet size 70 x 62 cm Published by : AC Mazo - Paris Printed b...
Screen
$955
H 28.15 in W 7.09 in D 0.2 in
'To The Slow Graceful Dance'. Mixed Media Painting, Botanical, conceptual
By Sophia Milligan
Located in Penzance, GB
'To The Slow Graceful Dance' Original Artwork. Unframed _________________________ A breeze in the theatre, a dance begins, costumes rising to the rhythm of the birdsong choir. The p...
Paint, Ink, Mixed Media, Board, Pencil, Photogram
Victor Vasarely -- Diam the album Diam
By Victor Vasarely
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Victor Vasarely Diam the album Diam, 1988 Serigraph in colors on paper Hand signed lower right Numbered 35/250 Sheet size 70 x 62 cm Published by : AC Mazo - Paris Printed by : Siliu...
Screen
$1,600
H 21.75 in W 30 in
Iain Baxter& "Alpine Skiing Landscape" Conceptual Monoprint Painting
By Iain Baxter
Located in Surfside, FL
Landscape with Alpine Skiing and furniture armoire in bright vibrant colors. Iain Baxter& (the artist recently added the ampersand to his name) is recognized as Canada’s pionee...
Mixed Media, Monoprint, Monotype
$850
H 10 in W 7 in D 1 in
Fritz Horstman, Formwork for Branching Stream, 2017, Wood, Walnut
By Fritz Horstman
Located in Darien, CT
While working on a large building project several years ago the artist, Fritz Horstman was struck by the poetry in the unfinished state of the construction site. He was drawn specifically to the space between the plywood walls that were raised as formworks for the pouring of cement. That space could only exist for a few hours before the cement truck...
Wood, Walnut
Nelson De La Nuez "Life is Good" Mixed Media
By Nelson De La Nuez
Located in Boston, MA
Artist: De La Nuez, Nelson Title: Life is Good Series: Sketches Date: 2022 Medium: Screenprint with hand applied acrylic Framed Dimensions: 42" x 42" Signature: Signed Edition...
Screen, Acrylic
Portrait & Head
By George Condo
Located in Manchester, GB
By George Condo 2024 33 colour silkscreen with spot colours on 600gsm Somerset Tub Sized Radiant White paper 86 x 75 cm Edition of 150
Paper, Screen
$800
H 7 in W 5 in D 2 in
Fritz Horstman, Formwork for a Rectangle 2, 2014, Wood, Plywood
By Fritz Horstman
Located in Darien, CT
While working on a large building project several years ago the artist, Fritz Horstman was struck by the poetry in the unfinished state of the construction site. He was drawn specifically to the space between the plywood walls that were raised as formworks for the pouring of cement. That space could only exist for a few hours before the cement truck...
Wood, Plywood
Sold
H 19.69 in W 27.56 in D 0.79 in
Je signe rien - Vautier, Ben - aluminum / 3D text collage - hand-signed archive
By Ben Vautier
Located in Winterswijk, NL
This impressive 3D text collage features white acrylic on a brushed aluminum composite panel, created in 2016. The piece is hand-signed by the artist with a felt-tip pen, dated, and ...
Metal
No title
By Ben Vautier
Located in Tel Aviv - Jaffa, IL
Original drawing with black felt pen on thick paper Handsigned lower right And dedicated to Eddy in french Unique piece
Felt Pen
Solution N17
By Ben Vautier
Located in Nice, FR
Gouache and technic mixte, signed in the text.