Niki de Saint Phalle

Visionary sculptor who transformed public art with explosive feminist narratives

French-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002) created monumental sculptures that challenged societal norms through vivid colors and radical feminism. Her Nanas series - giant voluptuous female figures - redefined representations of femininity in 1960s art.

The explosive Shooting Paintings (1961-1963) literally weaponized art-making. By firing rifles at plaster-covered paint balloons, Saint Phalle turned violence into creation, commenting on Cold War aggression. This revolutionary technique predated performance art trends by a decade.

Her magnum opus Tarot Garden in Tuscany, built over 20 years, features 22 massive concrete sculptures inspired by tarot cards. Unlike traditional public art, these interactive structures invited viewers inside, blending architecture with mysticism. The project's $5 million cost was self-funded through her commercial perfume line - an unprecedented move for artists.