Catherine Francblin's Comprehensive Biography of Niki de Saint Phalle

Catherine Francblin has authored a new biography on Niki de Saint Phalle, titled "Niki de Saint Phalle. La révolte à l’œuvre," published by Hazan. The book aims to reassess the artist's multifaceted career, moving beyond the iconic shooting paintings of the Nouveau Réalisme period. Francblin structures the biography around the artist's work, emphasizing how Saint Phalle's personal life—including her aristocratic family background, incestuous father, mental health struggles, and lifelong illness—directly informed her art. The biography explores Saint Phalle's diverse output: from the Nanas and the Tarot Garden in Tuscany (built over 15 years without institutional funding) to films like "Daddy" and her architectural sculptures such as "Hon." Francblin positions Saint Phalle as a precursor to contemporary trends: her embrace of ornamentation and childhood imagery anticipates Jeff Koons and Takashi Murakami; her environmental sculptures prefigure today's ecological art; and her multidisciplinary practice—including film, theater, and writing—feels current. The book also delves into Saint Phalle's spiritual dimension, her interest in cathedrals, and her unbuilt project for a church dedicated to four major religions. An exhibition of Saint Phalle's work runs at Galerie Georges-Philippe and Nathalie Vallois from November 8 to December 21, 2013, and a retrospective curated by Camille Morineau is scheduled for 2014-2015 at the Grand Palais.