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)
A POIL, 1968, 1968

Ben Vautier

A POIL, 1968, 1968

Sale Date: June 29, 2016

Auction Closed

times are changing!, 2014

Ben Vautier

times are changing!, 2014

Sale Date: June 1, 2016

Auction Closed

Je suis en guerre

Ben Vautier

Je suis en guerre

Sale Date: June 22, 2016

Auction Closed

Life is competition

Ben Vautier

Life is competition

Sale Date: June 15, 2016

Auction Closed

L'histoire de l'art n'est qu'une question de , 1995

Ben Vautier

L'histoire de l'art n'est qu'une question de , 1995

Sale Date: June 20, 2016

Auction Closed

Plus tout est simple, plus tout est..., 1994–1996

Ben Vautier

Plus tout est simple, plus tout est..., 1994–1996

Sale Date: June 22, 2016

Auction Closed

Zu viel Kunst, 2009

Ben Vautier

Zu viel Kunst, 2009

Sale Date: June 16, 2016

Auction Closed

Parfois je me sens le plus fort, 1984

Ben Vautier

Parfois je me sens le plus fort, 1984

Sale Date: June 8, 2016

Auction Closed

Senza titolo, anni '60

Ben Vautier

Senza titolo, anni '60

Sale Date: June 25, 2016

Auction Closed

Ça se discute, 2005

Ben Vautier

Ça se discute, 2005

Sale Date: June 10, 2016

Auction Closed

La signature manque (Le Ben manque), 1973

Ben Vautier

La signature manque (Le Ben manque), 1973

Sale Date: June 10, 2016

Auction Closed

„What would you do if you had only six hours , 1979

Ben Vautier

„What would you do if you had only six hours , 1979

Sale Date: June 4, 2016

Auction Closed

JE SUIS LE PLUS, 2007

Ben Vautier

JE SUIS LE PLUS, 2007

Sale Date: June 7, 2016

Auction Closed

Art Ephémère, 1995

Ben Vautier

Art Ephémère, 1995

Sale Date: June 3, 2016

Auction Closed

J'éclaire le monde, 1998

Ben Vautier

J'éclaire le monde, 1998

Sale Date: June 3, 2016

Auction Closed

Jour / Nuit, 1998

Ben Vautier

Jour / Nuit, 1998

Sale Date: June 3, 2016

Auction Closed

PORTRAIT DE LA JOCONDE

Ben Vautier

PORTRAIT DE LA JOCONDE

Sale Date: June 1, 2016

Auction Closed

L'avenir c'est le Tchador, 1989

Ben Vautier

L'avenir c'est le Tchador, 1989

Sale Date: May 27, 2016

Auction Closed

Une dentition singulière, 1958

Ben Vautier

Une dentition singulière, 1958

Sale Date: June 10, 2016

Auction Closed

MALLE A BIJOUX LOUIS VUITTON, 1989

Arman, Ben Vautier, and Cesar

MALLE A BIJOUX LOUIS VUITTON, 1989

Sale Date: May 30, 2016

Auction Closed

In and out, 1990

Ben Vautier

In and out, 1990

Sale Date: May 18, 2016

Auction Closed

Angoisse d'argent, 1986

Ben Vautier

Angoisse d'argent, 1986

Sale Date: May 31, 2016

Auction Closed

L'art j'aime pas (c'est pas vrai), 1975

Ben Vautier

L'art j'aime pas (c'est pas vrai), 1975

Sale Date: April 24, 2016

Auction Closed

BAD, 1988

Ben Vautier

BAD, 1988

Sale Date: April 24, 2016

Auction Closed

English (US)

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