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

Ben Vautier (2,282 results)
Visage, 1989

Ben Vautier

Visage, 1989

Sale Date: November 21, 2011

Auction Closed

I am sad

Ben Vautier

I am sad

Sale Date: November 16, 2011

Auction Closed

In black

Ben Vautier

In black

Sale Date: November 16, 2011

Auction Closed

I opened the door and went in, 1978

Ben Vautier

I opened the door and went in, 1978

Sale Date: November 5, 2011

Auction Closed

La vie est partout, 1980

Ben Vautier

La vie est partout, 1980

Sale Date: November 16, 2011

Auction Closed

Et si j'écrivais plus, 1969

Ben Vautier

Et si j'écrivais plus, 1969

Sale Date: October 22, 2011

Auction Closed

Art, 1984

Ben Vautier

Art, 1984

Sale Date: October 22, 2011

Auction Closed

Vol au dessus d'un nid de coucous, 1984

Ben Vautier

Vol au dessus d'un nid de coucous, 1984

Sale Date: October 22, 2011

Auction Closed

Je suis le diable, 1990

Ben Vautier

Je suis le diable, 1990

Sale Date: October 22, 2011

Auction Closed

Pour l'instant tout va bien, 1990

Ben Vautier

Pour l'instant tout va bien, 1990

Sale Date: October 18, 2011

Auction Closed

Je n'arrive pas à m’arrêter, 1990

Ben Vautier

Je n'arrive pas à m’arrêter, 1990

Sale Date: October 18, 2011

Auction Closed

C'est la vie, 2001

Ben Vautier

C'est la vie, 2001

Sale Date: October 18, 2011

Auction Closed

L'art est difficile, 2010

Ben Vautier

L'art est difficile, 2010

Sale Date: October 22, 2011

Auction Closed

Toile cynique, 2007

Ben Vautier

Toile cynique, 2007

Sale Date: October 11, 2011

Auction Closed

Bruxelles bus, 1993

Ben Vautier

Bruxelles bus, 1993

Sale Date: September 17, 2011

Auction Closed

Il bello è dall'altra parte

Ben Vautier

Il bello è dall'altra parte

Sale Date: October 29, 2011

Auction Closed

Je n'arrive pas à m'arrêter

Ben Vautier

Je n'arrive pas à m'arrêter

Sale Date: September 17, 2011

Auction Closed

Pas facile, 2003

Ben Vautier

Pas facile, 2003

Sale Date: September 24, 2011

Auction Closed

Senza titolo

Ben Vautier

Senza titolo

Sale Date: September 21, 2011

Auction Closed

On meurt tous, 2008

Ben Vautier

On meurt tous, 2008

Sale Date: September 17, 2011

Auction Closed

Le facteur sonne toujours deux fois, 2000

Ben Vautier

Le facteur sonne toujours deux fois, 2000

Sale Date: September 11, 2011

Auction Closed

Lights out, 2001

Ben Vautier

Lights out, 2001

Sale Date: August 15, 2011

Auction Closed

Nice est la centre du monde, 2009

Ben Vautier

Nice est la centre du monde, 2009

Sale Date: June 28, 2011

Auction Closed

Pot de peinture bleu marine, 1983

Ben Vautier

Pot de peinture bleu marine, 1983

Sale Date: June 28, 2011

Auction Closed