Niki de Saint Phalle.
Dream machine
September, 10 2026 – February, 7 2027The work of Niki de Saint Phalle (1930–2002) mounts a radical challenge to the discrimination of women and asserts a new, monumental vision of femininity. The Kunstpalast presents her iconic female figures, shooting paintings, happenings, sculptures and films, along with models for large-scale outdoor works, with particular attention to how she carved out artistic autonomy within a male-dominated field. “Nana Power!” – seen from today’s vantage point, her singular practice and her determination to upend gender relations place her squarely within the sphere of feminist activism, even if she never claimed the term herself.
Press Release
Please note: The use of the image material is only permitted free of charge in connection with current journalistic reporting on the relevant exhibitions and events, provided the copyright is named. Cropping of the illustrations is not permitted.
The exhibition places de Saint Phalle’s work in dialogue with selected pieces by her contemporaries. Encounters with artist friends such as Jean Tinguely, Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg, as well as Yayoi Kusama and Dorothy Iannone, sharpen the contours of her position and illuminate the enduring impact of her artistic legacy.
Please note: The use of the image material is only permitted free of charge in connection with current journalistic reporting on the relevant exhibitions and events, provided the copyright is named. Cropping of the illustrations is not permitted.
Press Images

Niki de Saint Phalle, La tempérance, Modell für „Jardin des tarots“, 1985, Foto Herling, Herling, werner, Sprengel Museum Hannover © Niki Charitable Art Foundation VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

I am the Nana Dream House, 1967, Druck, © Niki Charitable Art Foundation / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2025

Niki de Saint Phalle, Ahriman et Lucifer attaquent, 1962, Sprengel Museum Hannover © Niki Charitable Art Foundation VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

Nana rouge jambes en l‘air, um 1968, Leopold-Hoesch-Museum, Düren © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2026, Foto Peter Hinschläger

Nana, Pink, © Niki Charitable Art Foundation / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2025

Niki de Saint Phalle, Tir séance, 26 juin 1961, 1961, MAMAC © Niki Charitable Art Foundation VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

Per Olof Ultvedt, Robert Rauschenberg, Martial Raysse, Daniel Spoerri, Jean Tinguely, Niki de Saint Phalle, 1962, Foto (c) Christer Strömholm
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