ARMAN

BIOGRAPHIE

Armand Fernandez was born in Nice in 1928. The son of an antique dealer and an amateur cellist, he was irresistibly drawn to painting, drawing, and music. After studying at the École Nationale des Arts Décoratifs in Nice, he continued his education in Art History at the École du Louvre.

In 1960, Arman signed the manifesto of “Nouveau Réalisme,” a movement he founded with friends like Yves Klein, Martial Raysse, and Jean Tinguely. This manifesto advocated for “new perceptual approaches to reality” and marked a turning point in his career. Arman then focused on the sentimental relationship we have with objects, as well as their accumulation and destruction. This interest is notably reflected in his series of burnt violins.

His artistic approach involved elevating everyday objects, often banal, to the status of art. A prolific and creative artist of the late 20th century, Arman explored various fields of creation, from drawings and multiples to monumental sculptures and his famous accumulations. His work is included in the collections of prestigious museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Tate Gallery in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Although he passed away in 2005, Arman’s work continues to live on thanks to the efforts of his wife Corice Canton and the Arman P. Arman Trust, remaining a significant reference in Art History.