Niki de Saint-Phalle is figurehead of new realism and contemporary art, she is entitled to a fine tribute at the moment in Paris.
A singular universe
With Paradis Retrouvé, the Opera Gallery sheds light on the fantastic world of Niki de Saint-Phalle for a month. Women with generous shapes, colorful animals and decorative objects with esoteric motifs: welcome to the singular universe of Niki de Saint Phalle! Here we are invited to take a dreamlike journey, lulled by the monumental sculptures, the colorful wall installations and the furniture with cabalistic accents designed by the artist.
The ideal archetype for women in modern society
Niki de Saint Phalle is a French-American artist who was born in 1930 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, and grew up in New York. A self-taught artist, she lived and worked between France, Switzerland and the United States. She died in 2002 in La Jolla, California, USA. Niki de Saint Phalle was part of the Nouveaux Réalistes group, which she joined in 1964 through her husband, artist Jean Tinguely. She first received worldwide attention for angry, violent assemblies, which she had shot using firearms. These evolved into Nanas, light-hearted, whimsical, colorful, large-scale sculptures of animals, monsters, and female figures, first made of wool, yarn, paper-maché and wire scaffoldings and later made of polyester. These voluptuous female figures served to represent the ideal archetype for women in modern society, and can be seen in cities and museums all over the world. Saint Phalle’s monumental works are exhibited at the Stravinsky Fountain, next to the Pompidou in Paris (1983), the Tarot Garden in Garavicchio, South of Tuscany (1998), the Grotto in the Royal Garden Herrenhausen of Hannover (2003), and Queen Califia’s Magic Circle in California (2003). Her works are also held in the collections of the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, and the Musée d’Art Moderne d’Art Contemporain in Nice, among others.
Thirty exceptional works
As part of a parallel with the famous Tarot Garden, a set of sculptures made in Tuscany between 1979 and 1993, around thirty exceptional works by the artist have been brought together in rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. A great opportunity to take a closer look at the imaginary animals and the Nanas of Niki de Saint-Phalle, rich in a great diversity of techniques and materials. An exhibition bringing together a set of works illustrating this imaginary paradise that she built, which will invite you to immerse yourself in a real dreamlike journey.
Paradis Retrouvé
– Until November 30, 2022 – Opera Gallery – 92, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008
