A key figure in contemporary art, Niki de Saint Phalle is often associated with her famous Nanas, joyful and rebellious sculptures. However, there's a whole side of her imagination still waiting to be discovered: her relationship with animals. This is the exciting challenge posed by the unique exhibition at the Caumont-Centre d'Art in Aix-en-Provence, which reinterprets her entire body of work through the lens of a personal bestiary from April 30 to October 5, 2025.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
A fairy tale filled with monsters and metaphors
Thought of as a transformational journey in four stages, the exhibition opens with a gallery of mythological creatures, totems, and embodied fears. Dragons, serpents, spiders, and birds inhabit the artist's works, each creature carrying a strong symbolic weight. The dragon, a recurring figure, embodies fears and anger; “Painting calmed the chaos that stirred my soul. It was a way to tame those dragons that had always emerged in my work,” she said. The snake, ambivalent in nature, evokes both the biblical evil and regeneration. As for the spider, it takes on the form of a devouring, tentacled mother, reflecting a personal trauma.
Through these animal representations, Niki de Saint Phalle confronts her demons, taming anxiety and r...create your own mythology. This journey through the beastly world also intersects with its cultural references: science fiction cinema, medieval tales, founding myths, and literary figures enrich an imagination that is both popular and scholarly.
Niki de Saint Phalle, an ecofeminist artist ahead of her time
But for Niki de Saint Phalle, animals aren’t just monsters; they are also a guide, ally, or partner. The exhibition showcases how feminine figures – mermaids, bird-women, unicorns – embody a dreamed harmony between humans and nature. Through her monumental works, public fountains, and inhabited architectures, the artist builds a joyful and inclusive utopia, where nature takes back its rights. The love for life, the blending of bodies, and the power of the feminine make this Magical Bestiary a deeply relevant manifesto.
Niki de Saint Phalle: The Magical Bestiary
Caumont - Art Center
3, rue Joseph-Cabassol – Aix-en-Provence
From April 30 to October 5, 2025
More info and reservations