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)
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...
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Rare serigraph "The Grand Party" Giancarlo Impiglia
By Giancarlo Impiglia
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
"The Grand Party:" A rare hand-dated and signed serigraph by world-renowned Giancarlo Impiglia, whose value is bound only to increase. Born in Rome, Impiglia moved to New York in th...
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untitled
Located in New York, NY
Gestural screenprint, number 12 from an edition of 20
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untitled
Located in New York, NY
gestural screenprint, number 5 from an edition of 40
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Debbie Harry - NYC - 1977
By Bob Gruen
Located in North Adams, MA
Silkscreen in 10 colors 40 x 54 inches 2-Ply Museum Board Edition of 50 2014 Bob Gruen is one of the most well-known and respected photographers in rock and roll. From John Lennon t...
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untitled
Located in New York, NY
Untitled screenprint published in 1972 in an edition of 42. This is example number 4.
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Rare serigraph "After the Wedding"
By Giancarlo Impiglia
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
A rare serigraph by world-renowned Giancarlo Impiglia. This is an opportunity not to be missed. Born in Rome, Impiglia moved to New York in the 70s, where he established a signatur...
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untitled
Located in New York, NY
Gestural screenprint, number 29 from an edition of 30
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Falling For You
By Eric Orr
Located in North Adams, MA
"Falling for You," Eric Orr, 2022 Silkscreen on 290 gram Coventry Rag paper Dimensions: 13 3/4" x 17 1/4" Signed and numbered by the Artist in pencil An editio...
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$1,500
H 40 in W 35 in
Rare serigraph "The Performance" from the Cafe Society series
By Giancarlo Impiglia
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
A rare hand-dated and signed serigraph by world-renowned Giancarlo Impiglia. Part of his famous "Cafe Society" suite immortalized in films such as Big and Boomerang, this is an oppor...
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"Debbie Harry, Max's Kansas City, 1976"
By Bob Gruen
Located in North Adams, MA
Silkscreen and diamond dust on canvas Dimensions: 22" x 30" An edition of 25 Signed and numbered by the Artist Bob Gruen is one of the most well-known and respected photographers in Rock and Roll. By the mid 1970's he was already regarded as one of the foremost documenters of the scene working with major artists such as John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Tina Turner, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Kiss and others, also covering the emerging New Wave and Punk bands including The New York...
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Pleased to Meet You Again
Located in North Adams, MA
Silkscreen in 9 colors on 320 gram Coventry Rag Dimensions: 29" x 29" Signed by the Artists in pencil An edition of 75 John “CRASH” Matos and Eric Orr met for the first time as high school students. Although the exact location is unclear, both agree that it would have been at either Fashion Moda or the Writers’ Bench at 149th Street and Grand Concourse. Founded by Stefan Eins in 1978, Fashion Moda began as a “cultural concept” whose principles revolved around the fact that art can be made by anyone, anywhere and art should be accessible to anyone, anywhere. Located in the South Bronx, Fashion Moda embraced new talent and encouraged creative production across all mediums. The gallery has been credited as a major force behind the recognition of graffiti writing as an art form and it played a pivotal role in a community where Hip Hop was rapidly emerging. CRASH was only 19 years old when he curated “Graffiti Art Success for America” at Fashion Moda and his varied experiences at the gallery would later inspire his founding of WALLWORKS. The 149th Street Writers’ Bench, located at the back of the uptown...
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$1,500
H 40 in W 35 in
Famous rare serigraph "Cafe Society" from the Cafe Society series
By Giancarlo Impiglia
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
A rare hand-dated and signed serigraph by world-renowned Giancarlo Impiglia. Part of his famous "Cafe Society" series immortalized in films such as Big and Boomerang, this is an oppo...
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