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)
100 Frs les 200 gr d'art, 1990

Ben Vautier

100 Frs les 200 gr d'art, 1990

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

Une oeuvre de Ben en bronze veritable, 1989

Ben Vautier

Une oeuvre de Ben en bronze veritable, 1989

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

Portrait of macuinas, 1990

Ben Vautier

Portrait of macuinas, 1990

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

Dans la série des détails qui m'intéressent, 1989

Ben Vautier

Dans la série des détails qui m'intéressent, 1989

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

À caresser 3 fois et à faire un voeu, 1988

Ben Vautier

À caresser 3 fois et à faire un voeu, 1988

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

I like chocolat, 1989

Ben Vautier

I like chocolat, 1989

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

Corner piece, 1989

Ben Vautier

Corner piece, 1989

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

This box contains items you ordered

Ben Vautier

This box contains items you ordered

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

Chacun son ordre, 1990

Ben Vautier

Chacun son ordre, 1990

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

Price list, 1965

Ben Vautier

Price list, 1965

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

Dans la série des détails qui m'intéressent, 1989

Ben Vautier

Dans la série des détails qui m'intéressent, 1989

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

Se déshabiller entièrement, 1990

Ben Vautier

Se déshabiller entièrement, 1990

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

What do you think of this kind of art?, 1979

Ben Vautier

What do you think of this kind of art?, 1979

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

Is this a real Rembrandt, 1991

Ben Vautier

Is this a real Rembrandt, 1991

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

A fluxus piece for Alison Knowles, 1990

Ben Vautier

A fluxus piece for Alison Knowles, 1990

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

Je n'ai pas le courage de tout écrire, 1986

Ben Vautier

Je n'ai pas le courage de tout écrire, 1986

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

Art, 1989

Ben Vautier

Art, 1989

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

Dormir, 1991

Ben Vautier

Dormir, 1991

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

L'espèce humaine, 1988

Ben Vautier

L'espèce humaine, 1988

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

Bijoux for Annie, 1989

Ben Vautier

Bijoux for Annie, 1989

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

Hier op..., 1965

Ben Vautier

Hier op..., 1965

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

C'est peut-être pas de l'art, 1965

Ben Vautier

C'est peut-être pas de l'art, 1965

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

Réfléchissez les miroirs (J. Rigaut), 1987

Ben Vautier

Réfléchissez les miroirs (J. Rigaut), 1987

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

L'amatrice d'art, 1987

Ben Vautier

L'amatrice d'art, 1987

Sale Date: November 21, 2005

Auction Closed

English (US)

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