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)
L'art est comme les fruits pourrit, 1980

Ben Vautier

L'art est comme les fruits pourrit, 1980

Sale Date: December 6, 2010

Auction Closed

Style (Hommage à Max Ernst), 1970

Ben Vautier

Style (Hommage à Max Ernst), 1970

Sale Date: December 1, 2010

Auction Closed

Il faut en rire, 1990

Ben Vautier

Il faut en rire, 1990

Sale Date: December 1, 2010

Auction Closed

Je suis nul en céramique, 2006

Ben Vautier

Je suis nul en céramique, 2006

Sale Date: December 1, 2010

Auction Closed

Je vais où je veux

Ben Vautier

Je vais où je veux

Sale Date: December 5, 2010

Auction Closed

Il faut en finir avec la figuration libre..., 1984

Ben Vautier

Il faut en finir avec la figuration libre..., 1984

Sale Date: December 7, 2010

Auction Closed

Money is money, 1999

Ben Vautier

Money is money, 1999

Sale Date: December 7, 2010

Auction Closed

Et si je leur disais ce que je pense, 1984

Ben Vautier

Et si je leur disais ce que je pense, 1984

Sale Date: December 7, 2010

Auction Closed

Art-abc, 1984

Ben Vautier

Art-abc, 1984

Sale Date: November 22, 2010

Auction Closed

Am Anfang steht das Licht, 1992

Ben Vautier

Am Anfang steht das Licht, 1992

Sale Date: November 27, 2010

Auction Closed

Art, 1971

Ben Vautier

Art, 1971

Sale Date: November 16, 2010

Auction Closed

Ceinture, Pour me fouetter quand je te trompe -...

Ben Vautier

Ceinture, Pour me fouetter quand je te trompe -...

Sale Date: October 24, 2010

Auction Closed

Collier, Elle

Ben Vautier

Collier, Elle

Sale Date: October 24, 2010

Auction Closed

1980, 1970

Ben Vautier

1980, 1970

Sale Date: October 24, 2010

Auction Closed

Photograph this canvas, 1971

Ben Vautier

Photograph this canvas, 1971

Sale Date: October 24, 2010

Auction Closed

Just watch it move, 1979

Ben Vautier

Just watch it move, 1979

Sale Date: October 24, 2010

Auction Closed

Culture (Qui c'est qui tire les ficelles), 1991

Ben Vautier

Culture (Qui c'est qui tire les ficelles), 1991

Sale Date: October 24, 2010

Auction Closed

Idée pour une sculpture minimale, 1978

Ben Vautier

Idée pour une sculpture minimale, 1978

Sale Date: October 24, 2010

Auction Closed

A box with no ideas, 1978

Ben Vautier

A box with no ideas, 1978

Sale Date: October 24, 2010

Auction Closed

Geste: ecraser des points noirs, 1971

Ben Vautier

Geste: ecraser des points noirs, 1971

Sale Date: October 24, 2010

Auction Closed

Geste: denouer un noeud, 1962–1972

Ben Vautier

Geste: denouer un noeud, 1962–1972

Sale Date: October 24, 2010

Auction Closed

Geste: ramasser n'importe quoi, 1962

Ben Vautier

Geste: ramasser n'importe quoi, 1962

Sale Date: October 24, 2010

Auction Closed

Geste: me peindre, 1964

Ben Vautier

Geste: me peindre, 1964

Sale Date: October 24, 2010

Auction Closed

But darling who is this jeff koons everybody , 2009

Ben Vautier

But darling who is this jeff koons everybody , 2009

Sale Date: October 23, 2010

Auction Closed

English (US)

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