Le Serpent d'eau, Circa 1993

Niki de Saint Phalle   Master Artists

Niki de Saint Phalle , born in 1930 in the suburbs of Paris, is a French - American artist, filmmaker, author, and performer, known particularly for her work in painting and sculpture . Saint Phalle's plastic sculptures are internationally renowned for their exaggerated features and vibrant use of color to address issues of gender, race, religious identity , and social politics. Some of her most famous works include her iconic figure titled "Nana," her depiction of the "Sun God," and "The Monster of Soisy."

Niki de Saint Phalle considers herself a child of depression; raped at the age of 11 by her father, she took refuge in drawing at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris. In 1952, she married Harry Mathews, an American writer. Their marriage was tumultuous and Niki de Saint Phalle suffered from depression. She then began painting to free herself from her emotions. In 1960, she met the Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely , they quickly became a couple and collaborated on several projects.

In 1964, Niki de Saint Phalle produced her first series of Tirs. These performance paintings scandalized the art world, but brought her international recognition.

In the 1970s, Niki de Saint Phalle began working on her iconic “Nanas," monumental sculptures depicting women “freed from marriage and masochism."

One year later, she married Jean Tinguely and created her Tarot Garden in Italy where she was buried in 2002.

Throughout her career, Niki de Saint Phalle has participated in exhibitions worldwide , and her works continue to be included in collections today. Some of the most notable exhibitions of Saint Phalle's career include "Comparison: Painting and Sculpture at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville" in Paris, "Les Nanas au Pouvoir" at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, and "From Niki Matthews to Niki de Saint Phalle" at the Musée Sprengel in Paris.