Fluxus artist Ben Vautier dies by suicide at 88 after wife's death

Fluxus artist Ben Vautier died by suicide on June 5, 2024, at his home in Aspermont, France, hours after the death of his wife Annie. He was 88. Born in Naples in 1935, Vautier moved to Nice in 1949. A self-taught artist, he was initially influenced by Marcel Duchamp, signing anonymous objects. In the late 1950s he created works recalling Jean Tinguely's celibate machines. He joined Nouveau Réalisme in the early 1960s and later Fluxus after meeting George Maciunas in London in 1962. His signature cursive handwriting became central to his practice. Notable performances include sitting in Nice with a sign reading "Regardez moi cela suffit" (1963), and being filmed insulting spectators. In 1967 at GAM Torino, he participated in a performance with Ugo Nespolo, Mario Merz, Plinio Martelli, and Mario Ferrero for the exhibition Surprise curated by Eugenio Battisti and Germano Celant. In the 1980s he promoted Figuration libre, influenced by Isidore Isou's lettrism. His works include acrylic paintings with comic icons and the Mur des mots (1995) at the Blois School of Art. He participated in Documenta and major museum shows. In 1977 he curated A propos de Nice at Centre Pompidou. He founded the magazine La Différence in 1978. After his death, street art collective Whole Street painted a mural in Nice honoring him.