Niki De Saint Phalle

In 1933, Niki de Saint Phalle and her family moved to the United States, where they stayed until 1951. The following year, she relocated to Paris and fully devoted herself to art. In the mid-1950s, influenced by the works of Antoni Gaudí and Ferdinand Cheval, she abandoned oil painting and began creating her first reliefs and assemblages. In 1960, she formed a personal and professional partnership with Jean Tinguely, leading to many collaborative art projects. During this period, she participated in events organized by the Nouveaux Réalistes, under the direction of Pierre Restany.

In 1965, Niki created her first "Nanas," vibrant female sculptures that gained wide recognition. In 1967, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam held a retrospective of her work. That same year, she constructed her first "Nana Fountain" and began working on large-scale urban projects. Notable works include the Tarot Garden sculpture park in Garavicchio and a collaboration with Tinguely on the Stravinsky Fountain, commissioned by the French government for the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.

In 1999, the Pinacoteca do Estado in São Paulo held a major retrospective of her work, with several pieces donated to the museum's permanent collection.

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