Niki De Saint Phalle: My Art, My Dreams

by Niki de Saint Phalle, Carla Schulz-Hoffmann, Pierre Descargues

A beautiful and celebratory book on the works of Niki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002), this expanded and updated edition is made distinctly personal by the artist's own handwritten comments and whimsical sketches. When Niki de Saint Phalle died, the world lost not only an artist of enormous passion, but also a remarkably creative woman whose work and life were inextricably linked. Throughout her forty-year career Saint Phalle explored female roles in society and myth, basing many of her disquieting and joyful depictions on personal experience. The full range of Saint Phalle s oeuvre is paid glorious tribute in this retrospective volume, which also features new images and an extended biography. Chronologically arranged, this updated book takes readers from the visceral and controversial shooting paintings and her playfully voluptuous nanas to the impressive installations and wonderfully elaborate sculpture gardens such as the Tarot Garden in Tuscany, the Sun God in San Diego and the Stravinsky Fountain in Paris. In addition to nearly a hundred color and black and white photographs of Saint Phalle s work, the artist s own comments and sketches are interspersed throughout the book, providing an integral framework for understanding and appreciating her unusual talent.

Genres: Art

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

About the author

Niki de Saint Phalle was an artist whose career spanned five decades. De Saint Phalle was largely recognised by her naively decorated sculptures. Her mythology, feminist ideology, creative energy and personal anxieties were poured into her work, making for rich and magical creations.

Reviews

[Paula Hagar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book, for the most part, though I'd like to have heard more from Niki herself about her life. I love her "Nana" sculptures, and even enjoyed looking at the work of hers I did NOT like, but for the most part this is not an artist whose work I would seek out - though her Tarot Garden does sound fascinating!

[Calciferocious · Rating 3 out of 5]

the art is terrific and much of it is nicely detailed and in color. the artist's own words and doodles in her handwriting are valuable and interesting additions.

the essays in the introduction are frequently racist and largely garbage. and inexplicably, a page is missing from the biography in the back of the book, covering 1984-1994, because the text for 1930-1956 is printed twice.

pick it up to study the artworks but don't bother with any text she didn't write herself.

[Peter Tillman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely worth a look, if you like this artist. Her autobiographical notes are interesting, but the color photos of her work aren't well reproduced.

Her sculpture garden in Escondido, CA is amazing!