Niki de Saint Phalle

Niki de Saint Phalle, née Catherine Marie-Agnes Fal de Saint Phalle (October 29 1930 - May 21, 2002) was a French sculptor, painter, and film maker.

Shooting paintings

In 1961, she became known around the world for her Shooting paintings. A shooting painting consisted of a wooden base board on which containers of paint were laid, then covered with plaster. The painting was then raised and de Saint Phalle would shoot at it with a .22 caliber rifle. The bullets penetrated paint containers which spilled their contents over the painting. This "painting style" was completely new, and she travelled around the world performing shooting sessions in Paris, Sweden, Malibu, California, and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.

Related Topics:
1961 - Paris - Sweden - Malibu, California - Stedelijk Museum - Amsterdam

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Pierre Restany, founder of the Nouveau Realistes movement, attended one of de Saint Phalle's exhibitions and subsequently invited her to join. As a result, she soon became involved in the ideas, festivals and activities of this group which included such art personalities as Arman, Cesar, Christo, Gerard Deschamps, Francois Dufrene, Raymond Hains, Yves Klein, Martial Raysse, Mimmo Rotella, Daniel Spoerri, Jean Tinguely, and Jacques Villegle.

Related Topics:
Pierre Restany, - Nouveau Realistes - Arman - Cesar - Christo - Gerard Deschamps - Francois Dufrene - Raymond Hains - Yves Klein - Martial Raysse - Mimmo Rotella - Daniel Spoerri - Jean Tinguely - Jacques Villegle

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Her first solo exhibition in Paris occurred at Galerie J with assemblages, tirs, and a public shooting area. Soon de Saint Phalle appeared in group shows throughout Europe and the United States. During the 1960s, she became friends with American artists staying in Paris including Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Larry Rivers and his wife Clarice; de Saint Phalle went on to participate in various projects with them over the years.

Related Topics:
Robert Rauschenberg - Jasper Johns - Larry Rivers

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