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 bello è dall'altra parte

Ben Vautier

Il bello è dall'altra parte

Sale Date: April 1, 2012

Auction Closed

Le Bon et le méchant (diptych), 1995

Ben Vautier

Le Bon et le méchant (diptych), 1995

Sale Date: March 31, 2012

Auction Closed

Danger, 1990

Ben Vautier

Danger, 1990

Sale Date: March 31, 2012

Auction Closed

Ca c'est moi, 2003

Ben Vautier

Ca c'est moi, 2003

Sale Date: April 3, 2012

Auction Closed

Peint pour la gloire

Ben Vautier

Peint pour la gloire

Sale Date: April 3, 2012

Auction Closed

Tout savoir c'est... ne pas savoir (2 works), 2007

Ben Vautier

Tout savoir c'est... ne pas savoir (2 works), 2007

Sale Date: April 3, 2012

Auction Closed

Je n'arrive pas a m'arrêter, 1990

Ben Vautier

Je n'arrive pas a m'arrêter, 1990

Sale Date: March 13, 2012

Auction Closed

Fluxus music to open and close, 1980

Ben Vautier

Fluxus music to open and close, 1980

Sale Date: March 17, 2012

Auction Closed

Die Zeit die nicht vergeht (+ Métronome; 2..., 1987

Ben Vautier

Die Zeit die nicht vergeht (+ Métronome; 2..., 1987

Sale Date: March 11, 2012

Auction Closed

On meurt tous, 2008

Ben Vautier

On meurt tous, 2008

Sale Date: February 25, 2012

Auction Closed

I opened the door and I went in, 1979

Ben Vautier

I opened the door and I went in, 1979

Sale Date: February 15, 2012

Auction Closed

Enough, 2005

Ben Vautier

Enough, 2005

Sale Date: January 28, 2012

Auction Closed

Il limite dell'arte è un caffè, 2007

Ben Vautier

Il limite dell'arte è un caffè, 2007

Sale Date: January 21, 2012

Auction Closed

Chacun sa vie

Ben Vautier

Chacun sa vie

Sale Date: December 18, 2011

Auction Closed

Musique pour un seul signifiant, 1993

Ben Vautier

Musique pour un seul signifiant, 1993

Sale Date: December 21, 2011

Auction Closed

Damien Hirst du pauvre, 2011

Ben Vautier

Damien Hirst du pauvre, 2011

Sale Date: December 19, 2011

Auction Closed

This is art, 1987

Ben Vautier

This is art, 1987

Sale Date: December 19, 2011

Auction Closed

Chacun sa vie

Ben Vautier

Chacun sa vie

Sale Date: December 10, 2011

Auction Closed

Les choses simples de la vie, 1988

Ben Vautier

Les choses simples de la vie, 1988

Sale Date: December 11, 2011

Auction Closed

C'est la vie

Ben Vautier

C'est la vie

Sale Date: December 6, 2011

Auction Closed

La fiera di Bologna

Ben Vautier

La fiera di Bologna

Sale Date: December 3, 2011

Auction Closed

La vérité n'existe pas

Ben Vautier

La vérité n'existe pas

Sale Date: November 23, 2011

Auction Closed

Art is only a question of signature and date, 1972

Ben Vautier

Art is only a question of signature and date, 1972

Sale Date: November 26, 2011

Auction Closed

Le temps qui ne passe pas, 1987

Ben Vautier

Le temps qui ne passe pas, 1987

Sale Date: November 16, 2011

Auction Closed

English (US)

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