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)
Un jour après l'autre!, 2006

Ben Vautier

Un jour après l'autre!, 2006

Sale Date: January 22, 2011

Auction Closed

Ben vous confessera, puis après, ici..., 1970

Ben Vautier

Ben vous confessera, puis après, ici..., 1970

Sale Date: November 27, 2010

Auction Closed

Il faut manger le fromage..., 1990

Ben Vautier

Il faut manger le fromage..., 1990

Sale Date: March 15, 2008

Auction Closed

Lavagna, 1987

Ben Vautier

Lavagna, 1987

Sale Date: January 15, 2011

Auction Closed

Je signe tout, 1971

Ben Vautier

Je signe tout, 1971

Sale Date: November 28, 2009

Auction Closed

Regardez moi, 1971

Ben Vautier

Regardez moi, 1971

Sale Date: November 28, 2009

Auction Closed

L'art est inutile, 1971

Ben Vautier

L'art est inutile, 1971

Sale Date: November 29, 2008

Auction Closed

Trop de culture culturelle, 1985

Ben Vautier

Trop de culture culturelle, 1985

Sale Date: May 31, 2008

Auction Closed

Le nouveau est il nouveau?, 2004

Ben Vautier

Le nouveau est il nouveau?, 2004

Sale Date: May 31, 2008

Auction Closed

Ben, 1971

Ben Vautier

Ben, 1971

Sale Date: May 31, 2008

Auction Closed

Noire, 1971

Ben Vautier

Noire, 1971

Sale Date: May 31, 2008

Auction Closed

C'est le pied

Ben Vautier

C'est le pied

Sale Date: May 30, 2009

Auction Closed

Senza titolo, 1988

Ben Vautier

Senza titolo, 1988

Sale Date: May 30, 2009

Auction Closed

L'espoir, 1992

Ben Vautier

L'espoir, 1992

Sale Date: May 30, 2009

Auction Closed

Je regarde passer les critiques d'art, 1989

Ben Vautier

Je regarde passer les critiques d'art, 1989

Sale Date: May 30, 2009

Auction Closed

This is the best drawing in the world

Ben Vautier

This is the best drawing in the world

Sale Date: December 8, 2010

Auction Closed

Prix unique FS

Ben Vautier

Prix unique FS

Sale Date: December 8, 2010

Auction Closed

Peut-il y avoir pouvoir sans contre-pouvoir?, 2005

Ben Vautier

Peut-il y avoir pouvoir sans contre-pouvoir?, 2005

Sale Date: December 13, 2010

Auction Closed

Tout est une question d'emploi du temps, 1990

Ben Vautier

Tout est une question d'emploi du temps, 1990

Sale Date: December 13, 2010

Auction Closed

J'ai peur de la télé. Téléviseur Pioneer, 2003

Ben Vautier

J'ai peur de la télé. Téléviseur Pioneer, 2003

Sale Date: November 27, 2010

Auction Closed

L'Essentiel est que je communique

Ben Vautier

L'Essentiel est que je communique

Sale Date: November 27, 2010

Auction Closed

Je n'arrive pas à m'arrêter

Ben Vautier

Je n'arrive pas à m'arrêter

Sale Date: November 27, 2010

Auction Closed

Les temps sont difficiles, 2001

Ben Vautier

Les temps sont difficiles, 2001

Sale Date: November 21, 2010

Auction Closed

Le docteur est en visite, 1971

Ben Vautier

Le docteur est en visite, 1971

Sale Date: December 6, 2010

Auction Closed

English (US)

©2024 Artnet Worldwide Corporation. All rights reserved.