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)
Je suis un saint bol, 1994–1994

Ben Vautier

Je suis un saint bol, 1994–1994

Sale Date: April 8, 2002

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1975–1975

Ben Vautier

Untitled, 1975–1975

Sale Date: April 8, 2002

Auction Closed

Pas un jour sans une idée, 1996–1996

Ben Vautier

Pas un jour sans une idée, 1996–1996

Sale Date: April 8, 2002

Auction Closed

Die bange Stunde

Ben Vautier

Die bange Stunde

Sale Date: March 22, 2002

Auction Closed

Voir, 1974–1974

Ben Vautier

Voir, 1974–1974

Sale Date: March 18, 2002

Auction Closed

In a bed with me, 1979–1979

Ben Vautier

In a bed with me, 1979–1979

Sale Date: February 8, 2002

Auction Closed

Useless product, 1979–1979

Ben Vautier

Useless product, 1979–1979

Sale Date: February 8, 2002

Auction Closed

J'ai été amené à revoir mon jugement, 1975–1975

Ben Vautier

J'ai été amené à revoir mon jugement, 1975–1975

Sale Date: December 20, 2001

Auction Closed

Swedish suicide, 1979–1979

Ben Vautier

Swedish suicide, 1979–1979

Sale Date: December 16, 2001

Auction Closed

My name dessapearing, 1979–1979

Ben Vautier

My name dessapearing, 1979–1979

Sale Date: December 16, 2001

Auction Closed

Si vous avez une idée pour changer le..., 1991–1991

Ben Vautier

Si vous avez une idée pour changer le..., 1991–1991

Sale Date: December 16, 2001

Auction Closed

Ich mag die Deutschen, 1987–1987

Ben Vautier

Ich mag die Deutschen, 1987–1987

Sale Date: December 16, 2001

Auction Closed

Visez juste, 1998–1998

Ben Vautier

Visez juste, 1998–1998

Sale Date: December 8, 2001

Auction Closed

Ohne Titel, 1975–1975

Ben Vautier

Ohne Titel, 1975–1975

Sale Date: December 5, 2001

Auction Closed

J'aime peindre, 1972–1972

Ben Vautier

J'aime peindre, 1972–1972

Sale Date: November 30, 2001

Auction Closed

Il y a trop d'artistes, 1971–1971

Ben Vautier

Il y a trop d'artistes, 1971–1971

Sale Date: November 27, 2001

Auction Closed

Ben Vautier

"Au fur et à mesure...", 1980–1980

Sale Date: November 25, 2001

Auction Closed

Toile retournée avec ficelle, 1986–1986

Ben Vautier

Toile retournée avec ficelle, 1986–1986

Sale Date: November 25, 2001

Auction Closed

Ben Vautier

"L'oiseau de la presse nationale...", 1991–1991

Sale Date: November 25, 2001

Auction Closed

A fluxus piece for Alison Knowles, 1990–1990

Ben Vautier

A fluxus piece for Alison Knowles, 1990–1990

Sale Date: November 25, 2001

Auction Closed

Ben Vautier

"A vous de jouer...", 1991–1991

Sale Date: November 25, 2001

Auction Closed

You can carry this one, 1980–1980

Ben Vautier

You can carry this one, 1980–1980

Sale Date: November 25, 2001

Auction Closed

Après trois essais j'ai toujours pas réussi

Ben Vautier

Après trois essais j'ai toujours pas réussi

Sale Date: November 25, 2001

Auction Closed

Enlevez votre masque, 1991–1991

Ben Vautier

Enlevez votre masque, 1991–1991

Sale Date: November 25, 2001

Auction Closed

English (US)

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