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)
Le Fluxus-luxe - C'est Lenine qui invente le , 2009

Ben Vautier

Le Fluxus-luxe - C'est Lenine qui invente le , 2009

Sale Date: October 23, 2010

Auction Closed

Sometimes I drink to forget art, 1984

Ben Vautier

Sometimes I drink to forget art, 1984

Sale Date: October 17, 2010

Auction Closed

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

Ben Vautier

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

Sale Date: October 11, 2010

Auction Closed

Pourquoi pas rêver?

Ben Vautier

Pourquoi pas rêver?

Sale Date: October 23, 2010

Auction Closed

Au fur et à mesure mon nez changeait de..., 1990

Ben Vautier

Au fur et à mesure mon nez changeait de..., 1990

Sale Date: October 18, 2010

Auction Closed

Essuyez vos pieds S.V.P paillasson, 1990

Ben Vautier

Essuyez vos pieds S.V.P paillasson, 1990

Sale Date: October 18, 2010

Auction Closed

Pas d'art sans ego/c'est la vie, 2009

Ben Vautier

Pas d'art sans ego/c'est la vie, 2009

Sale Date: October 18, 2010

Auction Closed

Exercise on nothing

Ben Vautier

Exercise on nothing

Sale Date: September 29, 2010

Auction Closed

Spucke ben, 1960

Ben Vautier

Spucke ben, 1960

Sale Date: October 2, 2010

Auction Closed

Style

Ben Vautier

Style

Sale Date: October 2, 2010

Auction Closed

Regardez ailleurs

Ben Vautier

Regardez ailleurs

Sale Date: October 2, 2010

Auction Closed

To change art destroy ego

Ben Vautier

To change art destroy ego

Sale Date: October 2, 2010

Auction Closed

L'art n'existe pas, 2000

Ben Vautier

L'art n'existe pas, 2000

Sale Date: July 7, 2010

Auction Closed

Autant en emporte le vent (L'art), 1992

Ben Vautier

Autant en emporte le vent (L'art), 1992

Sale Date: July 5, 2010

Auction Closed

Quais de la Seine à Paris, 1948

Ben Vautier

Quais de la Seine à Paris, 1948

Sale Date: June 27, 2010

Auction Closed

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, 2004

Ben Vautier

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, 2004

Sale Date: June 28, 2010

Auction Closed

Buren running for glory, 1992

Ben Vautier

Buren running for glory, 1992

Sale Date: June 28, 2010

Auction Closed

Le collectionneur de Baselitz, 1991

Ben Vautier

Le collectionneur de Baselitz, 1991

Sale Date: June 28, 2010

Auction Closed

L'Essentiel est que je communique

Ben Vautier

L'Essentiel est que je communique

Sale Date: June 19, 2010

Auction Closed

Il va falloir trouver autre chose

Ben Vautier

Il va falloir trouver autre chose

Sale Date: June 21, 2010

Auction Closed

Tableau qui fait plasir

Ben Vautier

Tableau qui fait plasir

Sale Date: June 14, 2010

Auction Closed

Artistes gardez la ligne, 1989

Ben Vautier

Artistes gardez la ligne, 1989

Sale Date: June 14, 2010

Auction Closed

Un morceau de mon esprit, 1987

Ben Vautier

Un morceau de mon esprit, 1987

Sale Date: June 14, 2010

Auction Closed

I don't want..., 1992

Ben Vautier

I don't want..., 1992

Sale Date: June 26, 2010

Auction Closed

English (US)

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