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)
Vive le droit à la difference, 1986

Ben Vautier

Vive le droit à la difference, 1986

Sale Date: March 26, 1995

Auction Closed

Art, 1989

Ben Vautier

Art, 1989

Sale Date: March 26, 1995

Auction Closed

Annie's jewelry, 1980

Ben Vautier

Annie's jewelry, 1980

Sale Date: March 17, 1995

Auction Closed

Eau sale, 1994

Ben Vautier

Eau sale, 1994

Sale Date: March 17, 1995

Auction Closed

A bas le S.I.D.A

Ben Vautier

A bas le S.I.D.A

Sale Date: January 30, 1995

Auction Closed

Les enfants c'est nous

Ben Vautier

Les enfants c'est nous

Sale Date: December 23, 1994

Auction Closed

'Tiens, encore une revue o- on parle de moi, +a...

Ben Vautier

'Tiens, encore une revue o- on parle de moi, +a...

Sale Date: December 16, 1994

Auction Closed

Why me?, 1979

Ben Vautier

Why me?, 1979

Sale Date: December 14, 1994

Auction Closed

C'est le courage qui compte, 1987

Ben Vautier

C'est le courage qui compte, 1987

Sale Date: December 12, 1994

Auction Closed

On est en guerre, 1986

Ben Vautier

On est en guerre, 1986

Sale Date: December 12, 1994

Auction Closed

This is art, 1964

Ben Vautier

This is art, 1964

Sale Date: December 7, 1994

Auction Closed

Pas d'art, 1963

Ben Vautier

Pas d'art, 1963

Sale Date: December 7, 1994

Auction Closed

Bilig Angebote

Ben Vautier

Bilig Angebote

Sale Date: December 3, 1994

Auction Closed

Le Musée de Bern

Ben Vautier

Le Musée de Bern

Sale Date: December 3, 1994

Auction Closed

If God is everywhere then He is also in this box

Ben Vautier

If God is everywhere then He is also in this box

Sale Date: November 22, 1994

Auction Closed

Ben reçoit ici

Ben Vautier

Ben reçoit ici

Sale Date: November 22, 1994

Auction Closed

J'aime les fleurs, 1989

Ben Vautier

J'aime les fleurs, 1989

Sale Date: November 20, 1994

Auction Closed

Pour un qui croit tout savoir et qui ne sait , 1992

Ben Vautier

Pour un qui croit tout savoir et qui ne sait , 1992

Sale Date: November 20, 1994

Auction Closed

Art d'attitude de Ben, 1986

Ben Vautier

Art d'attitude de Ben, 1986

Sale Date: November 3, 1994

Auction Closed

Le musee de Ben, 1973

Ben Vautier

Le musee de Ben, 1973

Sale Date: October 28, 1994

Auction Closed

1966, 1964

Ben Vautier

1966, 1964

Sale Date: October 18, 1994

Auction Closed

Sans titre, 1969

Ben Vautier

Sans titre, 1969

Sale Date: October 18, 1994

Auction Closed

Le peintre sale - Autoportrait, 1984

Ben Vautier

Le peintre sale - Autoportrait, 1984

Sale Date: October 18, 1994

Auction Closed

La Suisse n'existe pas!, 1991

Ben Vautier

La Suisse n'existe pas!, 1991

Sale Date: October 14, 1994

Auction Closed

English (US)

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