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

Ben Vautier (2,255 results)
Jaune et bleu, 1996

Ben Vautier

Jaune et bleu, 1996

Sale Date: May 4, 2024

Auction Closed

La vérité est que...

Ben Vautier

La vérité est que...

Sale Date: April 22, 2024

Auction Closed

La guerre est partout, 2003

Ben Vautier

La guerre est partout, 2003

Sale Date: April 30, 2024

Auction Closed

Angoisse jalousie plaisir pouvoir, 1983, 1984

Ben Vautier

Angoisse jalousie plaisir pouvoir, 1983, 1984

Sale Date: April 24, 2024

Auction Closed

JE SIGNE TOUT BEN 1960, 1971, 1960

Ben Vautier

JE SIGNE TOUT BEN 1960, 1971, 1960

Sale Date: April 10, 2024

Auction Closed

LA PHILOSOPHIE DE CAGEOTS, 1976, 1976

Ben Vautier

LA PHILOSOPHIE DE CAGEOTS, 1976, 1976

Sale Date: March 20, 2024

Auction Closed

BANANE, 1959

Ben Vautier

BANANE, 1959

Sale Date: March 21, 2024

Auction Closed

Tout se passe entre moi et les autres

After Ben Vautier

Tout se passe entre moi et les autres

Sale Date: February 15, 2024

Auction Closed

Je me sens seul

After Ben Vautier

Je me sens seul

Sale Date: February 15, 2024

Auction Closed

Au secours je me noie dans les produits..., 1985

Ben Vautier

Au secours je me noie dans les produits..., 1985

Sale Date: February 20, 2024

Auction Closed

Senza titolo, 2000

Ben Vautier

Senza titolo, 2000

Sale Date: January 31, 2024

Auction Closed

Ik Ben, 1987, 1987

Ben Vautier

Ik Ben, 1987, 1987

Sale Date: January 29, 2024

Auction Closed

Je ne sais plus quoi faire

Ben Vautier

Je ne sais plus quoi faire

Sale Date: January 18, 2024

Auction Closed

Je ne sais plus quoi faire

Ben Vautier

Je ne sais plus quoi faire

Sale Date: June 20, 2023

Auction Closed

Art Donne nous notre art quotidien, 1988

Ben Vautier

Art Donne nous notre art quotidien, 1988

Sale Date: December 15, 2023

Auction Closed

Faites pas de l'art, 2017

Ben Vautier

Faites pas de l'art, 2017

Sale Date: December 10, 2023

Auction Closed

Tout le monde se repète, 1979

Ben Vautier

Tout le monde se repète, 1979

Sale Date: December 13, 2023

Auction Closed

Art Éphémère, 1995

Ben Vautier

Art Éphémère, 1995

Sale Date: November 18, 2023

Auction Closed

Culture, 1992

Ben Vautier

Culture, 1992

Sale Date: November 30, 2023

Auction Closed

Ben Vautier JE VIDE MON SAC Screenprinted Handbag

Ben Vautier

Ben Vautier JE VIDE MON SAC Screenprinted Handbag

Sale Date: November 4, 2023

Auction Closed

Wer bin ich?

Ben Vautier

Wer bin ich?

Sale Date: November 4, 2023

Auction Closed

Inoubliable, 2005

Ben Vautier

Inoubliable, 2005

Sale Date: October 14, 2023

Auction Closed

Trop de culture !! culturelle, 1985, 1985

Ben Vautier

Trop de culture !! culturelle, 1985, 1985

Sale Date: November 7, 2023

Auction Closed

sept ans de bonheur, 1991

Ben Vautier

sept ans de bonheur, 1991

Sale Date: December 8, 2022

Auction Closed