Niki de Saint Phalle Vive L'Amour Poster LARGE

Niki de Saint Phalle (1930−2000) is one of the most influential artists of the second half of the 20th century. The French-American artist was raised in upper-class New York society. However, her peculiar worldview, rebelliousness, and creativity joined forces to derail the path she was expected to follow. Saint Phalle was a self-taught artist often described as feminist and political. In the 1960s, she met Nouveau Réalisme artists in Paris and created her Shooting Paintings. She also started using the media, much like Andy Warhol, to consolidate her public image. Among her works are numerous public art projects, including the Tarot Garden in Tuscany and the Stravinsky Fountain in Paris. She also created experimental films, set designs, and costumes for ballet productions. But what brought her the most public attention were her Nanas, giant sculptures that revolutionized the representation of women in art.