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)

Ben Vautier

"BEN VOUS CONFESSERA, PUIS APRES..., 1970–1970

Sale Date: October 24, 1990

Auction Closed

JE SUIS PLUS IMPORTANT QUE PICASSO ET DUCHAMP...

Ben Vautier

JE SUIS PLUS IMPORTANT QUE PICASSO ET DUCHAMP...

Sale Date: October 22, 1990

Auction Closed

3 INTERPRETATIONS

Ben Vautier

3 INTERPRETATIONS

Sale Date: October 18, 1990

Auction Closed

Swedish suicide, 1979–1979

Ben Vautier

Swedish suicide, 1979–1979

Sale Date: October 15, 1990

Auction Closed

AFFAIRE DU JOUR, 1986–1986

Ben Vautier

AFFAIRE DU JOUR, 1986–1986

Sale Date: October 15, 1990

Auction Closed

ON EST EN GUERRE, 1986–1986

Ben Vautier

ON EST EN GUERRE, 1986–1986

Sale Date: October 15, 1990

Auction Closed

TOUT DOIT DISPARAITRE, 1986–1986

Ben Vautier

TOUT DOIT DISPARAITRE, 1986–1986

Sale Date: October 15, 1990

Auction Closed

MEME CECI, 1985–1985

Ben Vautier

MEME CECI, 1985–1985

Sale Date: October 15, 1990

Auction Closed

QUICK MAN, QUICK, 1979–1979

Ben Vautier

QUICK MAN, QUICK, 1979–1979

Sale Date: October 15, 1990

Auction Closed

OCCASION A SAISIR, 1986–1986

Ben Vautier

OCCASION A SAISIR, 1986–1986

Sale Date: October 15, 1990

Auction Closed

EN PROMOTION, 1986–1986

Ben Vautier

EN PROMOTION, 1986–1986

Sale Date: October 15, 1990

Auction Closed

YCH NAG DIE DEUTSCHEN, 1987–1987

Ben Vautier

YCH NAG DIE DEUTSCHEN, 1987–1987

Sale Date: October 15, 1990

Auction Closed

QUALITE SUPERIEURE, 1986–1986

Ben Vautier

QUALITE SUPERIEURE, 1986–1986

Sale Date: October 15, 1990

Auction Closed

CECI EST UN ORIGINAL

Ben Vautier

CECI EST UN ORIGINAL

Sale Date: October 15, 1990

Auction Closed

CON-CECI EST UN ORIGINAL

Ben Vautier

CON-CECI EST UN ORIGINAL

Sale Date: October 15, 1990

Auction Closed

INDIFFERENT, 1974–1974

Ben Vautier

INDIFFERENT, 1974–1974

Sale Date: October 10, 1990

Auction Closed

Portrait de Bob Calle

Ben Vautier

Portrait de Bob Calle

Sale Date: July 11, 1990

Auction Closed

Vive la différence

Ben Vautier

Vive la différence

Sale Date: July 11, 1990

Auction Closed

CETTE VALISE NE CONTIENT PAS N'IMPORTE QUOI

Ben Vautier

CETTE VALISE NE CONTIENT PAS N'IMPORTE QUOI

Sale Date: July 10, 1990

Auction Closed

SUR UN CHEVAL LAID

Ben Vautier

SUR UN CHEVAL LAID

Sale Date: July 10, 1990

Auction Closed

L'ART EST INUTILE RENTREZ CHEZ VOUS, 1970–1970

Ben Vautier

L'ART EST INUTILE RENTREZ CHEZ VOUS, 1970–1970

Sale Date: July 4, 1990

Auction Closed

JE M'APPELLE BEN ET JE N'AI PAS DE POTS , 1985–1986

Ben Vautier

JE M'APPELLE BEN ET JE N'AI PAS DE POTS , 1985–1986

Sale Date: June 22, 1990

Auction Closed

LA COULEUR EST ROUGE MAIS PASSE VITE AU , 1978–1978

Ben Vautier

LA COULEUR EST ROUGE MAIS PASSE VITE AU , 1978–1978

Sale Date: June 22, 1990

Auction Closed

LE COMBATTANT, 1983–1983

Ben Vautier

LE COMBATTANT, 1983–1983

Sale Date: June 22, 1990

Auction Closed

English (US)

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