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)
Dessin, 2014

Ben Vautier

Dessin, 2014

Sale Date: December 4, 2022

Auction Closed

Für Freiheit

Ben Vautier

Für Freiheit

Sale Date: December 13, 2022

Auction Closed

Fast nichts, 2019

Ben Vautier

Fast nichts, 2019

Sale Date: December 13, 2022

Auction Closed

Le pouvoir s'achète, 1999

Ben Vautier

Le pouvoir s'achète, 1999

Sale Date: December 7, 2022

Auction Closed

La philosophie des cageots, 1976

Ben Vautier

La philosophie des cageots, 1976

Sale Date: December 7, 2022

Auction Closed

CA, C'EST MOI, 2003

Ben Vautier

CA, C'EST MOI, 2003

Sale Date: December 1, 2022

Auction Closed

J'ai peur de la peinture, 1994

Ben Vautier

J'ai peur de la peinture, 1994

Sale Date: November 28, 2022

Auction Closed

Une idée e Ben il cattivo 2005, 2005

Ben Vautier

Une idée e Ben il cattivo 2005, 2005

Sale Date: December 4, 2022

Auction Closed

Geste: Tout signer, 1973

Ben Vautier

Geste: Tout signer, 1973

Sale Date: November 24, 2022

Auction Closed

Une simple question de survie, 2003

Ben Vautier

Une simple question de survie, 2003

Sale Date: November 22, 2022

Auction Closed

L'arte è finita, 1992

Ben Vautier

L'arte è finita, 1992

Sale Date: November 18, 2022

Auction Closed

L'arte è finita, 1992

Ben Vautier

L'arte è finita, 1992

Sale Date: November 17, 2022

Auction Closed

auf der Suche nach dem Jetzt, 1993

Ben Vautier

auf der Suche nach dem Jetzt, 1993

Sale Date: December 2, 2022

Auction Closed

regarde toi! voleur de cultures, 1990

Ben Vautier

regarde toi! voleur de cultures, 1990

Sale Date: December 2, 2022

Auction Closed

Au lit avec madame aile/ aille/ ail ail/ aie , 1980

Ben Vautier

Au lit avec madame aile/ aille/ ail ail/ aie , 1980

Sale Date: November 28, 2022

Auction Closed

J'ai rencontré un jour un garçon qui tenait..., 1985

Ben Vautier

J'ai rencontré un jour un garçon qui tenait..., 1985

Sale Date: November 13, 2022

Auction Closed

L’Essentiel est que je communique

Ben Vautier

L’Essentiel est que je communique

Sale Date: November 5, 2022

Auction Closed

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

Ben Vautier

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

Sale Date: November 2, 2022

Auction Closed

Moustache, 1980

Ben Vautier

Moustache, 1980

Sale Date: October 29, 2022

Auction Closed

La tête aux clous, 1986

Ben Vautier

La tête aux clous, 1986

Sale Date: October 18, 2022

Auction Closed

On est ce qu'on est : la vie c'est la vie, 1984

Ben Vautier

On est ce qu'on est : la vie c'est la vie, 1984

Sale Date: October 18, 2022

Auction Closed

Le droit d'être mauvais, 2010, 2010

Ben Vautier

Le droit d'être mauvais, 2010, 2010

Sale Date: October 2, 2022

Auction Closed

Es war einmal, 2019

Ben Vautier

Es war einmal, 2019

Sale Date: October 10, 2022

Auction Closed

miroir miroir dis moi qu'est ce que l'art, 1998

Ben Vautier

miroir miroir dis moi qu'est ce que l'art, 1998

Sale Date: October 10, 2022

Auction Closed

English (US)

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