Ben Vautier

(French, born 1935)

Ben Vautier is a French artist known for his text-based paintings, such as L'art est inutile. Rentrez chez vous (Art is Useless. Go Home) (1971). Vautier’s Fluxus works circled around defining art as a practice that unifies life, objects, and philosophy. “What is culture? Culture is a fairytale that we have created. It can be manipulative,” he has explained. “The purpose of culture is to amuse poor people and rich people alike.” Born Benjamin Vautier on July 18, 1935 in Naples, Italy, he moved with his mother to the South of France in 1949. In 1958, Vautier left his job at a book store and opened a stationary and record store. He ran Laboratory 32 (Le Magasin), from 1958 to 1973, creating a salon-like meeting place for people to discuss new ideas. During this time, Vautier met Yves Klein, John Cage, and George Macunias, becoming involved in the early stages of the Fluxus art movement. The artist continued producing work surrounding everyday life over the following decades, while also working as an advocate for minority rights in France. He continues to live and work in Nice, France. Today, Vautier’s works are held in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, the Centre George Pompidou in Paris, and the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, among others.

Ben Vautier Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Ben Vautier (2,282 results)
Ne jugez pas – ne jugez plus, 1978

Ben Vautier

Ne jugez pas – ne jugez plus, 1978

Sale Date: December 2, 2021

Auction Closed

Regardez Ailleurs

Ben Vautier

Regardez Ailleurs

Sale Date: December 16, 2021

Auction Closed

Loosing my pants and my art, 1998, 1998

Ben Vautier

Loosing my pants and my art, 1998, 1998

Sale Date: December 15, 2021

Auction Closed

Wer bin ich, 2019

Ben Vautier

Wer bin ich, 2019

Sale Date: November 18, 2021

Auction Closed

Es war einmal, 2019

Ben Vautier

Es war einmal, 2019

Sale Date: November 18, 2021

Auction Closed

Je suis libres

Ben Vautier

Je suis libres

Sale Date: November 24, 2021

Auction Closed

Wen alles Kunst ist wie soll man keine Kunst , 1993

Ben Vautier

Wen alles Kunst ist wie soll man keine Kunst , 1993

Sale Date: December 2, 2021

Auction Closed

12 cercles qui se prennent pour de l’art, 1991

Ben Vautier

12 cercles qui se prennent pour de l’art, 1991

Sale Date: December 2, 2021

Auction Closed

Life is competition, 1992

Ben Vautier

Life is competition, 1992

Sale Date: December 2, 2021

Auction Closed

Village fair

Ben Vautier

Village fair

Sale Date: November 9, 2021

Auction Closed

Regarder ceci autrement

Ben Vautier

Regarder ceci autrement

Sale Date: November 5, 2021

Auction Closed

Il faut tout communiquer

Ben Vautier

Il faut tout communiquer

Sale Date: October 27, 2021

Auction Closed

Hinterlist

Ben Vautier

Hinterlist

Sale Date: October 30, 2021

Auction Closed

Dans la vie avancer à reculons, 2010

Ben Vautier

Dans la vie avancer à reculons, 2010

Sale Date: October 15, 2021

Auction Closed

Je signe tout, 1960

Ben Vautier

Je signe tout, 1960

Sale Date: October 15, 2021

Auction Closed

Present / Passé 1986, 1986

Ben Vautier

Present / Passé 1986, 1986

Sale Date: October 26, 2021

Auction Closed

Life never stops living / Emily is over here, 2003

Ben Vautier

Life never stops living / Emily is over here, 2003

Sale Date: October 26, 2021

Auction Closed

Pour le droit à la diffèrence / For the..., 1991

Ben Vautier

Pour le droit à la diffèrence / For the..., 1991

Sale Date: October 26, 2021

Auction Closed

The artist, 1987

Ben Vautier

The artist, 1987

Sale Date: October 13, 2021

Auction Closed

All is art and writing why ? Because of man, , 1975

Ben Vautier

All is art and writing why ? Because of man, , 1975

Sale Date: October 2, 2021

Auction Closed

Miroir miroir dis moi qu’est-ce que l’art ?, , 1998

Ben Vautier

Miroir miroir dis moi qu’est-ce que l’art ?, , 1998

Sale Date: October 2, 2021

Auction Closed

Progrès / il faut se méfier des mots, 1992

Ben Vautier

Progrès / il faut se méfier des mots, 1992

Sale Date: October 23, 2021

Auction Closed

Ceci est un original S

Ben Vautier

Ceci est un original S

Sale Date: September 25, 2021

Auction Closed

für freiheit, 2019

Ben Vautier

für freiheit, 2019

Sale Date: October 10, 2021

Auction Closed

English (US)

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