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)
Quelle tête (What a head), 1991

Ben Vautier

Quelle tête (What a head), 1991

Sale Date: May 15, 2021

Auction Closed

Ho vergogna

Ben Vautier

Ho vergogna

Sale Date: April 17, 2021

Auction Closed

La vie est un film - 2019, 2019

Ben Vautier

La vie est un film - 2019, 2019

Sale Date: April 20, 2021

Auction Closed

Tout - 2015, 2015

Ben Vautier

Tout - 2015, 2015

Sale Date: April 20, 2021

Auction Closed

Pourquoi pas le bonheur ? - 2017, 2017

Ben Vautier

Pourquoi pas le bonheur ? - 2017, 2017

Sale Date: April 20, 2021

Auction Closed

Je bois pour oublier l'Art - 2019, 2019

Ben Vautier

Je bois pour oublier l'Art - 2019, 2019

Sale Date: April 20, 2021

Auction Closed

Wer Bin Ich - 2019, 2019

Ben Vautier

Wer Bin Ich - 2019, 2019

Sale Date: April 20, 2021

Auction Closed

Le temps qui passe ne s'arrête jamais - 2018, 2018

Ben Vautier

Le temps qui passe ne s'arrête jamais - 2018, 2018

Sale Date: April 20, 2021

Auction Closed

Ben n'expose pas - 1966 - 3 variantes, 1966

Ben Vautier

Ben n'expose pas - 1966 - 3 variantes, 1966

Sale Date: April 20, 2021

Auction Closed

Le temps qui passe ne s'arrête jamais - 2018, 2018

Ben Vautier

Le temps qui passe ne s'arrête jamais - 2018, 2018

Sale Date: April 20, 2021

Auction Closed

Pour un dominateur, 1991

Ben Vautier

Pour un dominateur, 1991

Sale Date: April 13, 2021

Auction Closed

Ben's dirty laundry 200 F each.

Ben Vautier

Ben's dirty laundry 200 F each.

Sale Date: April 13, 2021

Auction Closed

ETRE LIBRE, 1991, 1991

Ben Vautier

ETRE LIBRE, 1991, 1991

Sale Date: April 15, 2021

Auction Closed

Sainte Rita protégez Nice, 1994, 1994

Ben Vautier

Sainte Rita protégez Nice, 1994, 1994

Sale Date: April 8, 2021

Auction Closed

My mother, 1971, 1971

Ben Vautier

My mother, 1971, 1971

Sale Date: April 8, 2021

Auction Closed

Je vieillis et cela m'embête, 1972, 1972

Ben Vautier

Je vieillis et cela m'embête, 1972, 1972

Sale Date: April 8, 2021

Auction Closed

Secret défense, 2000

Ben Vautier

Secret défense, 2000

Sale Date: March 31, 2021

Auction Closed

Passé / Present 1986, 1986

Ben Vautier

Passé / Present 1986, 1986

Sale Date: April 20, 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: April 20, 2021

Auction Closed

For the right to be different / Pour le..., 1991

Ben Vautier

For the right to be different / Pour le..., 1991

Sale Date: April 20, 2021

Auction Closed

Map of...1991, 1991

Ben Vautier

Map of...1991, 1991

Sale Date: April 20, 2021

Auction Closed

Map of...1991, 1991

Ben Vautier

Map of...1991, 1991

Sale Date: April 20, 2021

Auction Closed

The story of my life. Death 1978, 1978

Ben Vautier

The story of my life. Death 1978, 1978

Sale Date: April 20, 2021

Auction Closed

Bend to see your ego 2009, 2009

Ben Vautier

Bend to see your ego 2009, 2009

Sale Date: April 20, 2021

Auction Closed

English (US)

©2024 Artnet Worldwide Corporation. All rights reserved.