Place Niki de Saint-Phalle

What would it be like to live inside a sculpture? Here at Place Niki de Saint-Phalle, you can get a glimpse of that feeling. This place is named after the remarkable artist Niki de Saint Phalle. She is best known for her vibrant, whimsical “Nanas”, large-scale sculptures of female figures. Niki de Saint Phalle yearned to inhabit a world of curving forms, a space that echoed the nurturing embrace of a mother. She actually achieved this dream later in life. Deep in the heart of Italy, she created the Tarot Garden, a sprawling sculpture park filled with monumental figures inspired by the Tarot cards. One of these, the Empress, a giant sphinx-like structure, became her home. Imagine living within the very sculpture you created, your bedroom nestled in one breast, your kitchen in the other. While Place Niki de Saint-Phalle doesn’t house a colossal Nana, it still reflects the artist’s playful spirit and her dedication to breaking boundaries. This spirit is evident in her diverse works, from the confrontational “Shooting Paintings” to playful inflatables and even a perfume bottle topped with intertwined snakes. This remarkable artist, who battled personal demons and chronic illness brought on by her art, left behind a world enriched by joy, color, and a celebration of the feminine.