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Ben

Ben






Born in 1935 in Naples, Italy.

Lives and works in Nice, France.


Arrived in Nice in 1949, he studied at the Parc-Impérial school and the Collège Stanislas before working in bookstores. In 1958, he opened Le Laboratoire 32, 32 rue de L'Escarène, which became the “Ben doute de Tout” gallery and a meeting and exhibition space where the main members of what would be the Ecole de Nice, César, Arman… 


He made his first writing paintings in 1958, developed from 1958 to 60 the idea of Total Art and from the beginning of the 60s the notion of appropriation (He signs the Holes, the Dirty Waters, God, the Windows...). Close to Yves Klein and seduced by New Realism, he is convinced that «art must be new and bring a shock».


On the occasion of an exhibition at the One Gallery in London in 1962, in which he lived in the fortnight of the window, he met George Maciunas who made him join the Fluxus group.

After meeting George Brecht in New York in 1964, Ben became the advocate of an art of attitude and used his gallery space to spread the ideas of Fluxus. 

The Boutique was bought in 1975 by the Musée National d'Art Moderne and entered the Centre Georges Pompidou in 1977, which regularly presents it in its collections.


In 1995, the MAC of Marseille devoted a retrospective entitled «For or against», followed in 2001 by «Je cherche la vérité» at the MAMAC of Nice and «Strip-tease intégral» at the MAC of Lyon in 2010. More recently, new retrospectives such as «Is everything art?» at the Museum Tinguely in Basel, in 2015 then «Everything is art?» at the Musée Maillol in Paris in 2016. He participated in many group exhibitions, «Fluxus» and others, around the world. Known for his actions and writing paintings, Ben has played a central role in spreading radical art ideas through his many publications. His production, both reflection on art in its most fundamental and integrating our daily life in its most particular, succeeds in making life an art. Universes as far removed from the artistic field as ethnicity, ego or truth have thus entered his work.


Nine solo exhibitions of Ben took place at the gallery Lara Vincy: I have too many ideas I do not know what to do in 1996, The air of nothing in 1998, The mess is gaining ground in 2000, The room of the philosopher in 2002, What is art in 2007, Contemporary art makes me laugh in 2010, I’m not crazy in 2012, What is culture? in 2013 and I am (not) eternal in 2023.



Works



Batch of 6 plates, 1998,  Ben

Ben

Batch of 6 plates, 1998

1,000€

Original concept seeking to question the artistic medium and the relationship we have with Contempor..

Fluxus continue, 2013,  Ben

Ben

Fluxus continue, 2013

30€

Fluxus, an international movement, brings together artists of all nationalities around a playful and..

Art, 1993,  Ben

Ben

Art, 1993

Prix sur demande

Signed and numbered lower right.Each copy consists of a unique background (iridescence).Publisher: A..

We have tried everything, 2005,  Ben

Ben

We have tried everyt..., 2005

Prix sur demande

This work by BEN is not limited to a simple transcription of titles of programs, but it also operate..

La jungle de l'art, 1988,  Ben

Ben

La jungle de l'art, 1988

1,200€

Educational and entertaining game published on the occasion of Ben's exhibition at the CCC in Tours ..

Nous finirons par vaincre (We will finally win), 2007,  Ben

Ben

Nous finirons par va..., 2007

4,000€

Signed and numbered lower right.Publisher: Editions Gefluc, France...

J'aime les mots... (I like words...), 2011,  Ben

Ben

J'aime les mots... (..., 2011

4,000€

Silkscreen on paperPublisher: Ben Vautier editions, Nice/FrSigned and numbered lower right..

Can we think of nothing?, 2019,  Ben

Ben

Can we think of noth..., 2019

Prix sur demande

The philosophical question "Can we think of nothing?" inspired the artist Ben Vautier to create a st..

On est tous des barbares (We are all barbarians), 1998,  Ben

Ben

On est tous des barb..., 1998

4,000€

Signed and numbered lower right.Publisher: ADN editions, Nice/Fr...

TOILE DE 45cm LONG (45cm LONG CANVAS), 1971,  Ben

Ben

TOILE DE 45cm LONG (..., 1971

5,000€

Silkscreen on white cardboardPublisher: Artestudio Macerata editions/It Signed and numbered lower ri..

La vie ne s'arrête jamais, 2012,  Ben

Ben

La vie ne s'arrête j..., 2012

30€

Through a set of performances featuring a taste for provocation and comical and offbeat humor, this ..

Strip-tease intégral, 2010,  Ben

Ben

Strip-tease intégral, 2010

80€

Catalog published on the occasion of Ben's personal exhibition "full striptease" at MAC Lyon from Ma..

I Ben would like to be the only artist not to be a genious, 1976,  Ben

Ben

I Ben would like to ..., 1976

Prix sur demande

Signed and numbered lower left...

C'est quoi la culture ?, 2013,  Ben

Ben

C'est quoi la cultur..., 2013

20€

Book containing a selection of newsletters chosen and corrected by Ben. 71 black and white pages For..

REGARDEZ AILLEURS (look elsewhere), 1971,  Ben

Ben

REGARDEZ AILLEURS (l..., 1971

5,000€

Signed and numbered lower right.Publisher: Artestudio Macerata/It editions...

Who knows?, 2017,  Ben

Ben

Who knows?, 2017

Prix sur demande

The philosophical question "Who knows?" inspired the artist Ben Vautier to create a striking work du..

Souris moi, 1993,  Ben

Ben

Souris moi, 1993

450€

..

Playing cards, 1992,  Ben

Ben

Playing cards, 1992

450€

..

Théorie de l'égo, 2014,  Ben

Ben

Théorie de l'égo, 2014

30€

Ben shares his thoughts on the ego, which have followed him since adolescence, in what he calls a "m..

Art éphémère (Ephemeral art), 2005,  Ben

Ben

Art éphémère (Epheme..., 2005

Prix sur demande

..

Vrac ; volume un ; 2020, 2020,  Ben

Ben

Vrac ; volume un ; 2..., 2020

20€

160 black and white pages Format: 15.5 x 21 cm Cover: soft Language: French Publication: 2020 Publis..

Pourquoi écrire - Je joue avec les mots... (Why write - I play with words ...), 2011,  Ben

Ben

Pourquoi écrire - Je..., 2011

4,000€

Silkscreen on paperPublisher: Ben Vautier editions, Nice/FrSigned and numbered lower right..

Cliquer, écrire à, économiser... (Click, write to, save...), 2007,  Ben

Ben

Cliquer, écrire à, é..., 2007

Prix sur demande

..

Sortie de secours (Emergency exit), 2005,  Ben

Ben

Sortie de secours (E..., 2005

Prix sur demande

..

Nous aussi on veut la gloire, (We also want the glory), 2010,  Ben

Ben

Nous aussi on veut l..., 2010

4,000€

Publisher: Ben Vautier editions, Nice/FrSigned and numbered lower right..

Mes démangeaisons , 2007,  Ben

Ben

Mes démangeaisons , 2007

20€

Book containing a selection of newsletters chosen and corrected by Ben. 180 black and white pages Fo..