About the Artist
Niki de Saint Phalle
Niki de Saint Phalle (1930–2002) was a French-American sculptor, painter, and filmmaker, known for her monumental sculptures and social activism. After a traumatic childhood and disrupted education, she began creating art in a naïve, experimental style. She gained attention for her violent assemblages shot by firearms, which evolved into her famous Nanas—whimsical, large-scale sculptures of female figures and creatures. Her major work, the Tarot Garden, is a vast sculpture garden with house-sized pieces. Lacking formal training, she collaborated with artists like Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, and her second husband, Jean Tinguely. Despite health issues from her materials, she continued creating until her death.
