Fernandez
Arman
French-born artist Fernandez Arman, a master of Nouveau Réalisme, fused destruction and creation in his accumulations and sculptures. If you're looking for original Arman prints and editions for sale or would like to sell, request a complimentary valuation and browse our network’s most in-demand works.
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Biography
Born Armand Pierre Fernandez in Nice, France, in 1928, Arman demonstrated an early affinity for art, inspired by his father's passion for antiques and his own keen observational skills. His formal education in art began at the École Nationale des Arts Décoratifs in Nice, followed by studies at the École du Louvre in Paris, where the seeds of his artistic vision took root.
Arman's artistic development is marked by his fascination with the object. In the 1950s, he began to challenge traditional notions of sculpture by incorporating found objects and waste materials into his work. This period saw his departure from painting and a move towards the assemblage for which he would become renowned. His signature accumulations and destructions of mass-produced items underscored the era's consumer culture and sought to redefine the role of the artist.
One of Arman's most notable periods emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s when he co-founded the Nouveau Réalisme movement alongside art critic Pierre Restany and fellow artists Yves Klein and Jean Tinguely. Nouveau Réalisme was characterised by a fresh perspective on reality through direct appropriation and the use of everyday materials. Arman's contributions to this movement were significant, with his Cachets and Allures series underlining the dichotomy between creation and destruction, a theme that would pervade his entire career.
Collaborations and influences played a considerable role in Arman's journey. His friendship with Yves Klein notably influenced his exploration and use of monochrome, while his dialogue with American Pop Art is evident in his elevation of consumer goods to the status of high art. His work crossed continents, and his time in New York led to critical engagement with American culture and consumerism.
Arman's major exhibitions and achievements are vast. His works have been displayed in prestigious institutions such as the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Tate Gallery in London.
Arman's legacy endures in the continued relevance of his commentary on materialism and consumption. His innovative use of accumulation as a form of artistic expression has inspired subsequent generations of artists, ensuring his lasting impact on the trajectory of contemporary art. His work remains a profound statement on the human condition, reflecting society's obsession with the object and the impermanence of material life.
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