Artist: Niki de Saint Phalle (French, 1930–2002)
Title: Serpent Vase
Medium: Ceramic and Polystyrene, Painted in Colors
Edition: EA 3/7 (Epreuve d'Artiste, Artist's Proof, part of a total edition of 50 plus 7 artist's proofs)
Size: 16.75" × 7.75" × 9" (42.5 × 19.7 × 22.9 cm)
Year: 1986
Inscription: Incised signature and edition on affixed brass plaque on underside: "EA 3/7"
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity
Niki de Saint Phalle's "Serpent Vase", created in 1986, is a vibrant sculptural object that demonstrates the artist's mastery of form and color. The vase draws upon Saint Phalle's long-standing fascination with mythological creatures and organic motifs, translating the sinuous movement of the serpent into a highly expressive work of art. With its coiled body and lively surface patterning, the "Serpent Vase" embodies Saint Phalle's broader exploration of themes of transformation, vitality, and the interplay between nature and fantasy.
Saint Phalle's sculptures are held in prominent collections worldwide, including the Guggenheim Museum, New York, the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C. Her work has been celebrated in major solo museum shows, including Niki de Saint Phalle: Structures for Life at the Grand Palais in Paris and Niki de Saint Phalle: Retrospective at the Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.
Constructed of ceramic and polystyrene and painted in bold, expressive hues, the vase measures 16.75 inches high with a width of 7.75 inches and a depth of 9 inches. The work is inscribed with Saint Phalle's signature and edition number "EA 3/7" on a brass plaque affixed to the underside, confirming its authenticity as one of seven artist's proofs outside the standard edition of 50 numbered pieces. Purchase of Niki de Saint Phalle's "Serpent Vase" includes a gallery certificate of authenticity from Modern Artifact.
About Niki de Saint Phalle
Niki de Saint Phalle (French, 1930–2002) was one of the most innovative and influential artists of the twentieth century, celebrated for her bold use of color, playful yet provocative forms, and fearless exploration of political, social, and feminist themes. Known internationally for her large-scale public sculptures, vibrant paintings, and groundbreaking assemblages, Saint Phalle carved out a singular position in modern and contemporary art. Her work continues to be exhibited in major museums and collected by institutions around the world, making her a central figure in postwar art history.
Born Catherine-Marie-Agnès Fal de Saint Phalle in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, she was raised in both France and the United States. Although she initially worked as a fashion model in New York, appearing in magazines such as Vogue and Life, she turned to art in the 1950s as a form of personal and emotional expression. She was largely self-taught, but her early career was shaped by her engagement with avant-garde circles in Paris and her close connection to Nouveau Realisme, a movement that sought to bridge art and everyday life.
Saint Phalle first gained international recognition in the early 1960s with her famous Tirs ("Shooting Paintings"), in which she used firearms to shoot bags of paint affixed to plaster reliefs, creating explosive and unpredictable compositions. These works challenged traditional ideas of artistic control and positioned her at the forefront of radical experimentation in contemporary art. Her practice later expanded into painting, sculpture, architecture, and monumental public art projects.
Among her most iconic creations are the Nanas—large, brightly colored sculptures of exuberant female figures that celebrated strength, joy, and femininity. First unveiled in the mid-1960s, the Nanas became a defining series of her career and solidified her reputation as a feminist pioneer in art. In the 1970s and 1980s, she undertook ambitious outdoor projects, including the Tarot Garden in Tuscany, Italy, a sprawling sculpture park filled with monumental works inspired by tarot card imagery. This lifelong project, realized with the help of artisans and collaborators, stands as one of her greatest artistic achievements.
Saint Phalle's work has been celebrated in major museum exhibitions worldwide. She has been the subject of retrospectives at the Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, the Grand Palais in Paris, the Centre Pompidou, the Sprengel Museum in Hanover, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, and MoMA PS1 in New York. Her sculptures are part of leading collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Centre Pompidou (Paris), the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (Washington, D.C.), and the Moderna Museet (Stockholm).
Today, Niki de Saint Phalle is remembered not only for her groundbreaking art but also for her visionary approach to scale, material, and public engagement. Her fearless creativity and commitment to pushing boundaries have ensured her legacy as one of the most dynamic and enduring voices in modern and contemporary art.
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