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)
En art il faut du nouveau, 1983

Ben Vautier

En art il faut du nouveau, 1983

Sale Date: April 1, 2015

Auction Closed

Notes sur l'art, 1984

Ben Vautier

Notes sur l'art, 1984

Sale Date: April 1, 2015

Auction Closed

Tout ce qui brille n'est pas art, 1986

Ben Vautier

Tout ce qui brille n'est pas art, 1986

Sale Date: April 1, 2015

Auction Closed

Angoisse, 1983

Ben Vautier

Angoisse, 1983

Sale Date: April 1, 2015

Auction Closed

I am anxious, 1971

Ben Vautier

I am anxious, 1971

Sale Date: April 1, 2015

Auction Closed

D'abord elle m'a sourit puis elle m'a..., 1988

Ben Vautier

D'abord elle m'a sourit puis elle m'a..., 1988

Sale Date: April 1, 2015

Auction Closed

Vanitas, 1989

Ben Vautier

Vanitas, 1989

Sale Date: April 1, 2015

Auction Closed

Portrait de Sylvana Lorentz en blonde..., 1989–1991

Ben Vautier

Portrait de Sylvana Lorentz en blonde..., 1989–1991

Sale Date: April 1, 2015

Auction Closed

Je suis Jean Ferrero et avec moi c'est la..., 1985

Ben Vautier

Je suis Jean Ferrero et avec moi c'est la..., 1985

Sale Date: April 1, 2015

Auction Closed

La nouvelle année sera catastrophique, 1997

Ben Vautier

La nouvelle année sera catastrophique, 1997

Sale Date: April 1, 2015

Auction Closed

Amnesty International, 1989

Ben Vautier

Amnesty International, 1989

Sale Date: April 1, 2015

Auction Closed

Il fait toujours beau quelque part ou..., 1969–1970

Ben Vautier

Il fait toujours beau quelque part ou..., 1969–1970

Sale Date: April 1, 2015

Auction Closed

Fatigue de me repeter fatigue de Peter, 2004

Ben Vautier

Fatigue de me repeter fatigue de Peter, 2004

Sale Date: April 1, 2015

Auction Closed

Pas d'art pas de sexe, 1986

Ben Vautier

Pas d'art pas de sexe, 1986

Sale Date: April 1, 2015

Auction Closed

C'est le courage qui compte pour peindre..., 1988

Ben Vautier

C'est le courage qui compte pour peindre..., 1988

Sale Date: April 1, 2015

Auction Closed

Pas d'art sans vérité…

Ben Vautier

Pas d'art sans vérité…

Sale Date: April 1, 2015

Auction Closed

Pourquoi écriree, je joue avec les mots, 2011

Ben Vautier

Pourquoi écriree, je joue avec les mots, 2011

Sale Date: March 16, 2015

Auction Closed

Etre libre, 1991

Ben Vautier

Etre libre, 1991

Sale Date: March 23, 2015

Auction Closed

Nous finirons par vaincre, 2007

Ben Vautier

Nous finirons par vaincre, 2007

Sale Date: March 23, 2015

Auction Closed

Je suis nul en ceramique, 2006

Ben Vautier

Je suis nul en ceramique, 2006

Sale Date: March 23, 2015

Auction Closed

Pourquoi ecrire je joue avec les mots, 2011

Ben Vautier

Pourquoi ecrire je joue avec les mots, 2011

Sale Date: March 23, 2015

Auction Closed

CECI EST UNE VISION, 1991–1992

Ben Vautier

CECI EST UNE VISION, 1991–1992

Sale Date: March 10, 2015

Auction Closed

Je suis nul en ceramique, 2006

Ben Vautier

Je suis nul en ceramique, 2006

Sale Date: December 19, 2014

Auction Closed

Le temps qui passe ne s'arrete jamais…, 2006

Ben Vautier

Le temps qui passe ne s'arrete jamais…, 2006

Sale Date: December 19, 2014

Auction Closed

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