Niki de Saint Phalle

Niki de Saint Phalle – Nouveau Réalisme / Nanas
Full name: Catherine-Marie-Agnès Fal de Saint Phalle
Birth: Neuilly-sur-Seine, France

Movement: Nouveau Réalisme, Pop Art, Monumental Art
Artistic Journey

Niki de Saint Phalle began in the 1960s with her Tirs (“Shooting Paintings”), works in which she fired paint onto canvases or sculptures with a rifle, denouncing violence and power structures. She joined Nouveau Réalisme and later developed her Nanas—monumental, colorful sculptures of women with generous forms, symbolizing freedom and femininity. She also created monumental public works such as the Tarot Garden in Tuscany, blending sculpture, mosaic, and architecture. Her work combined provocation, poetry, and social engagement.
Major Works

Tirs (1961-1963) – Series of canvases shattered with paint shots, denouncing violence and oppression.
Nana (1965-2000) – Monumental and colorful sculptures celebrating femininity and the joy of life.
Hon – Giant Nanas (1966) – Provocative installation in Stockholm, highlighting exuberant female forms.
The Tarot Garden (1998) – Monumental park in Tuscany with mosaics and sculptures inspired by the Tarot’s major arcana.
The Serpent (1979) – Public sculpture integrating colorful architectural and sculptural forms.
The Golem (1971-1973) – Giant polyester sculpture in Jerusalem, referencing the Jewish legend.
Style and Influences
Bright colors and generous forms, use of mosaic and polyester.
Influences of Nouveau Réalisme and Pop Art.
Social commitment, feminism, and critique of social norms.
Recognition and Legacy
Works housed at the Centre Pompidou (Paris), MoMA (New York), Museum of Modern Art (Stockholm).
Iconic figure of Nouveau Réalisme and monumental public art.
Her work continues to inspire contemporary artists and feminist movements.
Quote

“Joy is a weapon.”