Fluxus Artist Ben Vautier Dies at 88 in Nice Following Wife's Death

French artist Ben Vautier, known as Ben, has died at age 88. His body was discovered with a gunshot wound in his Nice home hours after his wife Anne, 85, passed away from a stroke. The Nice prosecutor's office is investigating the official cause of death. Associated with the Fluxus movement since meeting founder George Maciunas in 1962, Vautier spent six decades challenging artistic boundaries. He famously declared 'Everything is art' and incorporated this philosophy into works like 'Le magasin de Ben' (1958–73), a functional shop in Nice transformed into an installation now displayed at the Centre Pompidou-Metz. In 1963, he organized a Fluxus festival in Nice featuring performances by Nam June Paik and Benjamin Patterson. His provocative practice questioned artistic sanctity, exemplified by his statement 'Je suis un menteur' (I am a liar), which George Brecht praised as his best painting due to its paradoxical nature. Vautier's work celebrated life while interrogating the artist's role and human condition.