An explosion of colour has come to the Pink City. Les Abattoirs Toulouse, museum of modern and contemporary art, is hosting an extraordinary exhibition of the later works of the artist Niki de Saint Phalle. The artist, a monumental female sculptrice, was an advocate for many important causes; political, health awareness, minorities, food sustainability and climate change.  She was outspoken, autodidact and avant garde, sometimes referred to as a nouveau feministe.

From her series Tirs (shots) from the early 60’s when she used live ammunition to shoot up oil paintings, to her trio of Nanas installed next to the river Leine in Hannover, to her highly ambitious work Tarot Garden, a garden of sculptures in Tuscany , she became a very important female artist in her time. Born in France and partly raised in America, she had a traumatic childhood. One of her most famous quotes “ I was lucky to discover art because on a psychological level I had everything you need to become a terrorist. Beyond that I used the rifle for the good cause, that of art.”

“ J’ai eu la chance de rencontrer l’art parce que j’avais, sur le plan psychique, tout ce qu’il faut pour devenir terroriste. Au lieu de cela j’ai utilisé le fusil pour la bonne cause, celle de l’art.” 

This exhibition which opens to the public on Friday the 7 October for six months concentrates on her later works from the 80’s. 

I had the privilege of attending a private viewing and wanted to share some of the photos I took. The exhibition is wonderful, powerful and colourful as befits the artist who was ahead of her time in so many ways not least of all her in her understanding of the magic of self expression as a means of art therapy.

Niki de Saint Phalle 07.10.22 to 05.03.23 Les années 1980 et 1990 : l’art en liberté

Musée des Abattoirs Toulouse 76 all Charles de Fitte 31300 

If you are visiting Toulouse between the 07/10/22 to 05/03/23 you can see the exhibition at the Abattoirs Museum located in the city, on the banks of the Garonne river. If you live in or around la ville rose you should be sure not to miss the wonderful works of the great French American artist Niki de Saint Phalle.

I hope that you have enjoyed this post, follow me to keep up with me on my travels around beautiful Occitanie ………………………à bientôt Christina.