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)
A bas le sida

Ben Vautier

A bas le sida

Sale Date: February 14, 2007

Auction Closed

La vérité changera l'art

Ben Vautier

La vérité changera l'art

Sale Date: February 5, 2007

Auction Closed

L'essentiel est que je communique

Ben Vautier

L'essentiel est que je communique

Sale Date: February 5, 2007

Auction Closed

L'eau coule, la vie continue, 1993

Ben Vautier

L'eau coule, la vie continue, 1993

Sale Date: February 5, 2007

Auction Closed

Black is beautiful, 2006

Ben Vautier

Black is beautiful, 2006

Sale Date: June 29, 2006

Auction Closed

No more art, 1985

Ben Vautier

No more art, 1985

Sale Date: December 8, 2006

Auction Closed

Je n'ai rien a vous montrer, 1988

Ben Vautier

Je n'ai rien a vous montrer, 1988

Sale Date: December 17, 2006

Auction Closed

Je chiffonne l'art, 1992

Ben Vautier

Je chiffonne l'art, 1992

Sale Date: December 17, 2006

Auction Closed

Je suis nul en céramique

Ben Vautier

Je suis nul en céramique

Sale Date: December 11, 2006

Auction Closed

Sometimes I believe I am right, 1984

Ben Vautier

Sometimes I believe I am right, 1984

Sale Date: December 12, 2006

Auction Closed

Effacer

Ben Vautier

Effacer

Sale Date: December 12, 2006

Auction Closed

Je suis absurde - j'aime n'importe quoi et..., 1991

Ben Vautier

Je suis absurde - j'aime n'importe quoi et..., 1991

Sale Date: November 29, 2006

Auction Closed

Je me suis regarde dans ce miroir plus de 2 heures

Ben Vautier

Je me suis regarde dans ce miroir plus de 2 heures

Sale Date: December 6, 2006

Auction Closed

Moi Ben je signe depuis Duchamp, 1991

Ben Vautier

Moi Ben je signe depuis Duchamp, 1991

Sale Date: December 5, 2006

Auction Closed

Kunst ist zu Verkaufen

Ben Vautier

Kunst ist zu Verkaufen

Sale Date: December 5, 2006

Auction Closed

J'oublie tout, 1979

Ben Vautier

J'oublie tout, 1979

Sale Date: October 29, 2006

Auction Closed

No more art

Ben Vautier

No more art

Sale Date: November 11, 2006

Auction Closed

Il faut déceler et combattre toutes les..., 1996

Ben Vautier

Il faut déceler et combattre toutes les..., 1996

Sale Date: October 27, 2006

Auction Closed

C'est de l'art ou de l'arnaque, 1997

Ben Vautier

C'est de l'art ou de l'arnaque, 1997

Sale Date: October 27, 2006

Auction Closed

L'Art est prétention

Ben Vautier

L'Art est prétention

Sale Date: October 30, 2006

Auction Closed

Hommage a Basquiat, 1992

Ben Vautier

Hommage a Basquiat, 1992

Sale Date: October 30, 2006

Auction Closed

Fatalement ben, fatalement bleu, fatalement beau

Ben Vautier

Fatalement ben, fatalement bleu, fatalement beau

Sale Date: October 28, 2006

Auction Closed

La véritée ment - Vrai/Faux, 2003

Ben Vautier

La véritée ment - Vrai/Faux, 2003

Sale Date: October 23, 2006

Auction Closed

Objets choisis par Ben, 1991

Ben Vautier

Objets choisis par Ben, 1991

Sale Date: October 23, 2006

Auction Closed