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)
Attention la culture manipule -1991, 1991

Ben Vautier

Attention la culture manipule -1991, 1991

Sale Date: April 5, 2022

Auction Closed

Bonjour Max Ernst (Style) - 1974, 1974

Ben Vautier

Bonjour Max Ernst (Style) - 1974, 1974

Sale Date: April 5, 2022

Auction Closed

Für freiheit (pour la liberté ) - 2019, 2019

Ben Vautier

Für freiheit (pour la liberté ) - 2019, 2019

Sale Date: April 5, 2022

Auction Closed

Wer bin ich (qui suis-je ?) - 2019, 2019

Ben Vautier

Wer bin ich (qui suis-je ?) - 2019, 2019

Sale Date: April 5, 2022

Auction Closed

Es war einmal (il était une fois ) - 2019, 2019

Ben Vautier

Es war einmal (il était une fois ) - 2019, 2019

Sale Date: April 5, 2022

Auction Closed

Moi aussi je pleure pour qu'on m'oublie pas, 1985

Ben Vautier

Moi aussi je pleure pour qu'on m'oublie pas, 1985

Sale Date: April 7, 2022

Auction Closed

The Swedish dream - 1986, 1986

Ben Vautier

The Swedish dream - 1986, 1986

Sale Date: March 30, 2022

Auction Closed

Je me sens seul - Tapis

Ben Vautier

Je me sens seul - Tapis

Sale Date: March 26, 2022

Auction Closed

Sans Titre

Ben Vautier

Sans Titre

Sale Date: March 22, 2022

Auction Closed

Signature, 1973

Ben Vautier

Signature, 1973

Sale Date: April 6, 2022

Auction Closed

Oh ! L'artiste, te fais pas d'illusions, 1986

Ben Vautier

Oh ! L'artiste, te fais pas d'illusions, 1986

Sale Date: April 6, 2022

Auction Closed

Visage, 1983, 1983

Ben Vautier

Visage, 1983, 1983

Sale Date: March 19, 2022

Auction Closed

Cœur de châtaignier (ça pique), 1978

Ben Vautier

Cœur de châtaignier (ça pique), 1978

Sale Date: March 16, 2022

Auction Closed

Annie m’a dit je veux bien que tu mettes des...

Ben Vautier

Annie m’a dit je veux bien que tu mettes des...

Sale Date: March 16, 2022

Auction Closed

Porte-manteau Traviata, 1986

Ben Vautier

Porte-manteau Traviata, 1986

Sale Date: March 16, 2022

Auction Closed

What is Hidden Behind Art, 2003

Ben Vautier

What is Hidden Behind Art, 2003

Sale Date: March 9, 2022

Auction Closed

Van Gogh, 1980

Ben Vautier

Van Gogh, 1980

Sale Date: March 16, 2022

Auction Closed

Pour se pendre, 1986, 1986

Ben Vautier

Pour se pendre, 1986, 1986

Sale Date: February 26, 2022

Auction Closed

Miroir, miroir dis moi qu'est-ce que l'art?, 1998

Ben Vautier

Miroir, miroir dis moi qu'est-ce que l'art?, 1998

Sale Date: March 12, 2022

Auction Closed

SAC-Service action culturelle

Ben Vautier

SAC-Service action culturelle", 1988, 1988

Sale Date: March 9, 2022

Auction Closed

Es war einmal

Ben Vautier

Es war einmal

Sale Date: January 31, 2022

Auction Closed

Fur freiheit

Ben Vautier

Fur freiheit

Sale Date: January 31, 2022

Auction Closed

Wer bin ich? 2019, 2019

Ben Vautier

Wer bin ich? 2019, 2019

Sale Date: January 31, 2022

Auction Closed

Bend to see your ego 2003, 2003

Ben Vautier

Bend to see your ego 2003, 2003

Sale Date: January 31, 2022

Auction Closed

English (US)

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