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)
Il n'y a pas de peinture 1989, 1989

Ben Vautier

Il n'y a pas de peinture 1989, 1989

Sale Date: April 20, 2021

Auction Closed

Life never stops, 2003

Ben Vautier

Life never stops, 2003

Sale Date: April 20, 2021

Auction Closed

Tout est beau, 1971

Ben Vautier

Tout est beau, 1971

Sale Date: April 20, 2021

Auction Closed

TOUT AUTOUR C'EST LA VIE- 2002, 2002

Ben Vautier

TOUT AUTOUR C'EST LA VIE- 2002, 2002

Sale Date: March 31, 2021

Auction Closed

NUIT DE CHINE, NUIT CALINE, NUIT D'AMOUR -..., 2004

Ben Vautier

NUIT DE CHINE, NUIT CALINE, NUIT D'AMOUR -..., 2004

Sale Date: March 31, 2021

Auction Closed

Suite Olympic Centennial, 1992

Ben Vautier

Suite Olympic Centennial, 1992

Sale Date: March 20, 2021

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1996

Ben Vautier

Untitled, 1996

Sale Date: March 16, 2021

Auction Closed

Io vuoto il sacco - Sac d'une terroriste, 1997

Ben Vautier

Io vuoto il sacco - Sac d'une terroriste, 1997

Sale Date: March 16, 2021

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1995

Ben Vautier

Untitled, 1995

Sale Date: March 16, 2021

Auction Closed

Die Signatur, das Datum und die Numerierung..., 1973

Ben Vautier

Die Signatur, das Datum und die Numerierung..., 1973

Sale Date: March 14, 2021

Auction Closed

My nose, 1967

Ben Vautier

My nose, 1967

Sale Date: March 6, 2021

Auction Closed

L’été sera chaud, 1999

Ben Vautier

L’été sera chaud, 1999

Sale Date: March 9, 2021

Auction Closed

Tout va très bien monsieur Matisse, 1979

Ben Vautier

Tout va très bien monsieur Matisse, 1979

Sale Date: March 9, 2021

Auction Closed

PAPER PIECE BY BEN, 1960

Ben Vautier

PAPER PIECE BY BEN, 1960

Sale Date: March 2, 2021

Auction Closed

La révolution sexuelle, 1968

Ben Vautier

La révolution sexuelle, 1968

Sale Date: August 26, 2020

Auction Closed

Life is competition, 1992

Ben Vautier

Life is competition, 1992

Sale Date: June 3, 2020

Auction Closed

Take Your Time

Ben Vautier

Take Your Time

Sale Date: February 18, 2021

Auction Closed

Boite mystère ne pas ouvrir, 1962

Ben Vautier

Boite mystère ne pas ouvrir, 1962

Sale Date: February 17, 2021

Auction Closed

LA RECHERCHE D’AUTRE CHOSE

Ben Vautier

LA RECHERCHE D’AUTRE CHOSE

Sale Date: February 20, 2021

Auction Closed

Être libre, 1991, 1991

Ben Vautier

Être libre, 1991, 1991

Sale Date: January 30, 2021

Auction Closed

Sans titre

Ben Vautier

Sans titre

Sale Date: February 1, 2021

Auction Closed

Pas d’art sans liberté, 2003, 2003

Ben Vautier

Pas d’art sans liberté, 2003, 2003

Sale Date: December 19, 2020

Auction Closed

Le temps une minute, 1961–1970

Ben Vautier

Le temps une minute, 1961–1970

Sale Date: December 17, 2020

Auction Closed

Io vuoto il sacco - Sac d'une terroriste, 1997

Ben Vautier

Io vuoto il sacco - Sac d'une terroriste, 1997

Sale Date: December 17, 2020

Auction Closed

English (US)

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