Arman

ARMAN (1928–2005) was a major figure of Nouveau Réalisme and one of the most important French artists of the second half of the twentieth century. Born Armand Fernandez in Nice, he developed an early fascination with everyday objects, their multiplication and transformation, which became central to his artistic language.

In 1960, Arman became one of the founding figures of Nouveau Réalisme, alongside artists including Yves Klein, César, Jean Tinguely, Daniel Spoerri and Niki de Saint Phalle. The movement sought to establish a new relationship with reality by incorporating objects and materials taken directly from everyday life into works of art.

From the late 1950s onwards, Arman developed his famous Accumulations, bringing together large quantities of identical or similar objects such as watches, tools, violins, paint tubes, mechanical components and industrial objects. Removed from their original function and multiplied almost to the point of saturation, these ordinary objects became the material of the artwork itself.

He continued this exploration through his Poubelles, composed of discarded objects and waste, as well as his celebrated Colères, in which objects were deliberately broken before their fragments were reassembled into new compositions. Arman also experimented with cutting, combustion and various forms of assemblage, with musical instruments becoming one of the most recognizable recurring motifs in his work.

Through accumulation, repetition and destruction, Arman explored themes related to consumer society, mass production and our relationship with objects. Everyday objects lost their original purpose and were transformed into sculptures, compositions and records of contemporary society.

Working between France and the United States, Arman developed an international career that ranged from intimate works to monumental public sculptures. Today, his works can be found in major public and private collections around the world, and his artistic legacy remains closely associated with the history of Nouveau Réalisme.

Discover works by Arman presented at Galerie De Medicis, Place des Vosges in Paris. Through his accumulations, cut objects and assemblages drawn from everyday life, Arman developed an immediately recognizable artistic language that became emblematic of Nouveau Réalisme. The gallery offers a selection of available works; our team can provide further information about their characteristics, authenticity and acquisition options.