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)
Uriner (Geste 48), 1962–1963

Ben Vautier

Uriner (Geste 48), 1962–1963

Sale Date: November 26, 2020

Auction Closed

Message du Père Noël Ben à Paul

Ben Vautier

Message du Père Noël Ben à Paul

Sale Date: November 18, 2020

Auction Closed

Je me sens libre 2002, 2002

Ben Vautier

Je me sens libre 2002, 2002

Sale Date: December 14, 2020

Auction Closed

Tout est décoration 2008, 2008

Ben Vautier

Tout est décoration 2008, 2008

Sale Date: December 14, 2020

Auction Closed

This box contains the items you ordered..., 1987

Rainer Ruthenbeck and Ben Vautier

This box contains the items you ordered..., 1987

Sale Date: November 6, 2020

Auction Closed

Cartable, 1988

Ben Vautier

Cartable, 1988

Sale Date: November 6, 2020

Auction Closed

Annie ma dit je veux bien que tu mettes des..., 1997

Ben Vautier

Annie ma dit je veux bien que tu mettes des..., 1997

Sale Date: October 28, 2020

Auction Closed

Porte-manteau Traviata, 1986, 1986

Ben Vautier

Porte-manteau Traviata, 1986, 1986

Sale Date: October 28, 2020

Auction Closed

Il y a des jours où..., 1984, 1984

Ben Vautier

Il y a des jours où..., 1984, 1984

Sale Date: October 28, 2020

Auction Closed

Fluxus Music, 1986

Ben Vautier

Fluxus Music, 1986

Sale Date: October 26, 2020

Auction Closed

Ti giuro che in tutta la mia vita di..., 2007

Ben Vautier

Ti giuro che in tutta la mia vita di..., 2007

Sale Date: September 25, 2020

Auction Closed

La révolution sexuelle, 1968

Ben Vautier

La révolution sexuelle, 1968

Sale Date: October 14, 2020

Auction Closed

Chacun son totem 1990, 1990

Ben Vautier

Chacun son totem 1990, 1990

Sale Date: October 28, 2020

Auction Closed

AU FUR ET À MESURE QUE JE PARLAIS D'ART, 1990

Ben Vautier

AU FUR ET À MESURE QUE JE PARLAIS D'ART, 1990

Sale Date: September 23, 2020

Auction Closed

Il va falloir s'adapter, 2004, 2004

Ben Vautier

Il va falloir s'adapter, 2004, 2004

Sale Date: September 23, 2020

Auction Closed

Pas d'art sans liberté

Ben Vautier

Pas d'art sans liberté

Sale Date: September 21, 2020

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT DE GUY ROTTIER, 1982

Ben Vautier

PORTRAIT DE GUY ROTTIER, 1982

Sale Date: September 16, 2020

Auction Closed

S.A.C. – service action culturelle (1988), 1988

Ben Vautier

S.A.C. – service action culturelle (1988), 1988

Sale Date: July 30, 2020

Auction Closed

S.A.C. – service action culturelle (1988), 1988

Ben Vautier

S.A.C. – service action culturelle (1988), 1988

Sale Date: August 19, 2020

Auction Closed

Je suis toute nue en dessous

Ben Vautier

Je suis toute nue en dessous

Sale Date: August 6, 2020

Auction Closed

Ce sac contient un billet d'avion pour..., 1988

Ben Vautier

Ce sac contient un billet d'avion pour..., 1988

Sale Date: July 27, 2020

Auction Closed

1)Betrachten Sie die Situation 2) Suchen Sie , 1971

Ben Vautier

1)Betrachten Sie die Situation 2) Suchen Sie , 1971

Sale Date: July 23, 2020

Auction Closed

TOUT CE QUI MONTE, 2007, 2007

Ben Vautier

TOUT CE QUI MONTE, 2007, 2007

Sale Date: June 30, 2020

Auction Closed

J’aime les pages blanches

Ben Vautier

J’aime les pages blanches

Sale Date: June 28, 2020

Auction Closed

English (US)

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