biography of Yves KLEIN (1928-1962)
Personal data
Birth : 04/28/1928 - Nice, France
Death : 06/06/1962 - Paris, France
Sex : M
Nationality/Affiliation : France
Family relations
Son of Fred Frits KLEIN [ 1898-1990 ]Son of Marie RAYMOND [ 1908-1988 ]
Husband of Rotraut KLEIN-MOQUAY [ 1938 ]
Professional data
Work and Life
1961:First solo exhibition in the USA at the Leo Castelli Gallery, New York NY, USA
1960:Patents a ultramarine blue color known as ‘International Klein Blue’ (IKB)
1955:Settles permanently in Paris, France
1955:Meets Pierre Restany and Jean Tinguely
1948 – 1954:Travels to Italy, United Kingdom, Spain and Japan
1947:Begins to pratice Judo, which have an important role in his search for spirituality
1942 – 1946:Becomes friend with Arman Fernandez and Claude Pascal
Work
Categorie and medium
Painting : 
Sculpture-Volume : 
Performing Art : Performance Subject
spiritualityArtistic periods
1962 : First moulding of his friends in order to create "Relief-portraits" of the "Nouveaux Réalistes"1961 : First series of "fire paintings"
1960 : First public presentation of his "anthropométries"
1960 : First "cosmogonies" and "monogolds"
1958 : Begins using nude models as "living paintbrushes"
1958 : Exhibits for the first time the vacuum
1957 : Beginning of his blue period
1957 : Begins using blue teinted sponges
27/10/1960 : Creation of the "Nouveau réalisme" group in his flat in Paris - He signs the manifesto
Movements and styles
Conceptual ArtNew Realism
Monochrome Painting
Works
| Vénus bleue | |
| Date of creation : 1970 Medium : Sculpture Size : 69 cm | |
| Relief éponge bleu | |
| Date of creation : 1961 Medium : Painting Materials : stone-pigment-resin Supports : wood Technical data : sponge relief | |
| Grande anthropophagie bleue, Hommage à Tennessee Williams (ANT 76) | |
| Date of creation : 1960 Medium : Painting Materials : pigment-resin Supports : paper-canvas Size : 275 x 407 cm | |
| Sponge Relief | |
| Date of creation : 1960 Medium : Painting Technical data : sponge relief | |
| Requiem blue | |
| Date of creation : 1960 Medium : Painting | |
| Anthropométrie ANT3 | |
| Date of creation : 1960 Medium : Painting Materials : painting-resin Supports : cardboard Size : 123 x 82 cm | |
| Chèque | |
| Date of creation : 1959 Medium : Painting Size : 16 x 37 cm | |
| Untitled blue monochrome (IKB 82) | |
| Date of creation : 1959 Medium : Painting Technical data : dry pigment in synthetic resin on canvas, mounted on board Size : 36 x 28 x 1 inch | |
| Blue Sponge | |
| Date of creation : 1959 Medium : Object Technical data : dry pigment in synthetic resin on sponge with metal rod and stone base Size : 39 x 12 x 10 inch | |
| IKB 79 | |
| Date of creation : 1959 Medium : Relief Materials : painting Supports : wood-canvas Size : 140 x 120 x 32 cm | |
| Sponge Relief | |
| Date of creation : 1958 Medium : Painting Technical data : reinforced relief plaster covered with natural sponges and painted in blu IKB Size : 500 x 100 cm | |
| Monochrome orange | |
| Date of creation : 1955 Medium : Painting Materials : pigment-resin Supports : canvas Size : 50 x 150 cm | |
| Expression de l'univers de la couleur mine orange | |
| Date of creation : 05/1955 Medium : Painting Supports : wood | |
Solo Exhibitions (Selected)
Solo exhibitions
2006
La Coupole – Paris, France
04/28/2006 – 02/05/2006
2005
Museo Guggenheim Bilbao / Guggenheim Museum Bilbao – Bilbao, Spain
2005 – 05/02/2005
2004
Schirn Kunsthalle – Frankfurt, Germany
09/17/2004 – 01/09/2005
Yves Klein: Air Architecture
MAK Center for Art and Architecture L.A. – West Hollywood CA, United States
05/13/2004 – 08/29/2004
Galerie de France – Paris, France
02/26/2004 – 04/24/2004
2000
Yves Klein “La vie”, la vie elle-même qui est l’art absolu
MAMAC Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain – Nice, France
04/28/2000 – 09/04/2000
1997
Museum of Contemporary Art – Sydney NSW, Australia
1997
1995
Hayward Gallery – London, United Kingdom
1995
1994
Museum Ludwig – Cologne, Germany
1994 – 1995
1983
MNAM Musée National d’Art Moderne – Centre National d’Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou – Paris, France
03/03/1983 – 05/23/1983
1974
Tate Gallery – London, United Kingdom
1974
1969
Musée des Arts Décoratifs – Paris, France
1969
1966
Palais Des Beaux-Arts-Servarts – Brussels, Belgium
1966
1965
Galerie Alexandre Iolas – Paris, France
1965
1964
Galerie Bonnier – Lausanne VD, Switzerland
1964
1961
Yves Klein le Monochrome
Dwan Gallery – Los Angeles CA, United States
05/29/1961 – 06/24/1961
Yves Klein le monochrome
Leo Castelli – New York NY, United States
04/11/1961 – 04/29/1961
Yves Klein : Monochrome und Feuer
Museum Haus Lange – Krefeld, Germany
01/14/1961 – 02/26/1961
1960
Anthropométries de l’époque bleu
Galerie Internationale d’Art Contemporain – Paris, France
03/1960
1959
Bas-reliefs dans une forêt d’éponges
Galerie Iris Clert – Paris, France
06/15/1959 – 06/30/1959
1958
La Spécialisation de la sensibilité à l’état matière première en sensibilité picturale stabilisée, Le Vide
Galerie Iris Clert – Paris, France
04/28/1958 – 05/12/1958
1957
Monochrome Propositions of Yves Klein
Gallery One – London, United Kingdom
06/04/1957 – 07/13/1957
Pigment pur
Galerie Colette Allendy – Paris, France
05/14/1957 – 05/23/1957
Yves, Propositions monochromes
Galerie Iris Clert – Paris, France
05/10/1957 – 05/25/1957
Proposte monocrome, epoca blu
Galerie Apollinaire – Milan MI, Italy
01/02/1957 – 01/12/1957
1956
Yves, Propositions Monochromes
Galerie Colette Allendy – Paris, France
02/21/1956 – 03/07/1956
1955
Yves peintures
Club des Solitaires – Editions Lacoste – Paris, France
1955
Group Exhibitions (Selected)
Art shows / fairs
2004
FIAC Foire Internationale d’Art Contemporain, n°31
Paris Expo – Porte de Versailles – Paris, France
10/21/2004 – 10/25/2004
Represented by : Galerie Hans Mayer – Grabbeplatz 2 – Düsseldorf, Germany
Art 35 Basel
Messe Basel – Basel BS, Switzerland
06/16/2004 – 06/21/2004
Represented by : Galerie de France – 52, rue de la Verrerie – Paris, France
ART2004 – The 16th London Contemporary Art Fair
Business Design Centre – London, United Kingdom
01/14/2004 – 01/18/2004
Represented by : Archeus – 3 Albemarle Street – London, United Kingdom
2003
Art Basel Miami Beach
Miami Beach Convention Center – Miami Beach FL, United States
12/04/2003 – 12/07/2003
Represented by : Galerie Gmurzynska – Goethestrasse 65a – Cologne, Germany
Art Cologne, n° 37
Cologne, Germany
10/29/2003 – 11/02/2003
Represented by : Galerie Gmurzynska – Goethestrasse 65a – Cologne, Germany
FIAC, n°30
Paris Expo – Porte de Versailles – Paris, France
10/09/2003 – 10/13/2003
Represented by : Galerie Nathalie Seroussi – 34 Rue de Seine – Paris, France
Art 34 Basel
Messe Basel – Basel BS, Switzerland
06/18/2003 – 06/23/2003
Represented by : Galerie de France – 52, rue de la Verrerie – Paris, France
Art Chicago 2003
Navy Pier’s Festival Hall – Chicago IL, United States
05/09/2003 – 05/12/2003
Represented by : Edward Tyler Nahem Fine Art – 56 East 66th Street – New York NY, United States
2002
Art Basel Miami Beach
Miami Beach Convention Center – Miami Beach FL, United States
12/05/2002 – 12/08/2002
Represented by : Galerie Gmurzynska – Goethestrasse 65a – Cologne, Germany
ACAF 8 – Australian Contemporary Art Fair / Melbourne Art Fair
Royal Exhibition Building – Melbourne VIC, Australia
10/02/2002 – 10/06/2002
Represented by : Gimpel Fils Gallery – 30 Davies Street – London, United Kingdom
Art 33 Basel
Messe Basel – Basel BS, Switzerland
06/12/2002 – 06/17/2002
Represented by : Galerie Gmurzynska – Goethestrasse 65a – Cologne, Germany
KunstRAI
Amsterdam, Netherlands
05/15/2002 – 05/20/2002
Represented by : Galerie Delaive – Spiegelgracht 23 – Amsterdam, Netherlands
2001
Art Basel Miami Beach: cancelled
Miami Beach Convention Center – Miami Beach FL, United States
12/13/2001 – 12/16/2001
Represented by : Galerie Gmurzynska – Goethestrasse 65a – Cologne, Germany
FIAC, n°28
Paris Expo – Porte de Versailles – Paris, France
10/10/2001 – 10/15/2001
Represented by : Galerie Nathalie Seroussi – 34 Rue de Seine – Paris, France
Art 32 Basel
Messe Basel – Basel BS, Switzerland
06/13/2001 – 06/18/2001
Represented by : Acquavella Galleries Inc. – 18 Esat 79th Street – New York NY, United States
ArtBrussels – 19th Contemporary Art Fair
Brussels Expo – Brussels, Belgium
04/20/2001 – 04/24/2001
Represented by : Galerie Pascal Retelet – 838 route de La Colle – Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France
Sthml Art Fair 2001, n° 21
Sollentunamässan – Sollentuna, Sweden
03/08/2001 – 03/11/2001
Represented by : dep,art,ment – Engelbrektsgatan 21 – Stockholm, Sweden
Arte Fiera – Mostra Mercato d’Arte contemporanea
Quartiere Fieristico – Bologna BO, Italy
01/25/2001 – 01/29/2001
Represented by : Galleria Maggiore – Via d’Aglezio 15 – Bologna BO, Italy
Artpalmbeach – 4th Modern & Contemporary Art Fair
International Pavilion of the Palm Beaches – West Palm Beach FL, United States
01/10/2001 – 01/15/2001
Represented by : Dominique Haim Chanin Fine Arts – Suite 11b 625 Broadway – New York NY, United States
2000
ARTissima – Arte Contemporaneo a Torino, n° 7
Palazzo del Lavoro – Turin TO, Italy
10/05/2000 – 10/08/2000
Represented by : Tornabuoni Arte – Tornabuoni Arte Via Fatebenefratelli 36 – Milan MI, Italy
KUNSTKÖLN 2000 – Internationale Messe für Editionen, Art Brut, Kunst nach 1980
Messegelände Köln-Deutz – Cologne, Germany
04/01/2000 – 04/09/2000
Represented by : Fischerplatz-Galerie – Fischergasse 21 – Ulm, Germany
1999
Art Cologne, n° 33
Cologne, Germany
11/07/1999 – 11/14/1999
Represented by : Gimpel Fils Gallery – 30 Davies Street – London, United Kingdom
ART Paris – art moderne et création contemporaine
Carrousel du Louvre – Paris, France
09/16/1999 – 09/20/1999
Represented by : Galerie Obsis – 70 Avenue Gabriel Péri – Gennevilliers, France
1998
ARCO – Feria Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo, n°17
Parque Ferial Juan Carlos I – Madrid, Spain
1998
Represented by : Galeria Antonio Prates – Travessa do Pasteleiro, 22 – Lisbon, Portugal
Group exhibitions
2007
Le Nouveau Réalisme
Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais – Paris, France
03/18/2007 – 07/02/2007
2004
The Furniture of Poul Kjaerholm and Selected Work
Sean Kelly Gallery – New York NY, United States
12/10/2004 – 01/22/2005
Systèmes de l’art concret
Château de Mouans Sartoux – Mouans-Sartoux, France
06/27/2004 – 10/10/2004
Mages Pop
Galerie Sonia Zannettacci – Geneva GE, Switzerland
06/01/2004 – 07/31/2004
2003
Pour l’amour de Vénus
Donjon de Vez – Vez, France
06/14/2003 – 09/30/2003
Sculpture
Grant Selwyn Fine Art – New York NY, United States
05/03/2003 – 06/23/2003
2002
Points of Departure II: Connecting with Contemporary Art
SFMOMA San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – San Francisco CA, United States
07/10/2002 – 09/06/2002
Natural – Unnatural
Galerie Gmurzynska – Cologne, Germany
06/03/2002 – 08/03/2002
The Physical World: An Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture
Gagosian Gallery – New York NY, United States
05/09/2002 – 08/30/2002
Claude Monet … bis zum digitalen Impressionismus
Fondation Beyeler – Riehen BL, Switzerland
03/28/2002 – 08/18/2002
1998
Premises : invested spaces in visual arts, architecture and design from France 1958-98
Guggenheim Museum SoHo – New York NY, United States
10/17/1998 – 01/11/1999
La Collection du Centre Georges Pompidou, un choix au Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
Musée d’Art Moderne de la ville de Paris – Paris, France
06/16/1998 – 09/19/1999
1996
Abstraction in the Twentieth Century : total risk, freedom, discipline
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum – New York NY, United States
1996
1993
From Rodin to Serra
Gstaad, Switzerland
03/1993 – 04/1993
1987
La Collection du Musée d’Art Moderne de Saint-Etienne
IAC Institut d’art contemporain – Villeurbanne, France
12/12/1987 – 02/21/1988
1986
Pictura Loquens, 25 ans d’art en France
Villa Arson – Nice, France
02/1986 – 04/1986
1960 Les Nouveaux Réalistes
Musée d’Art Moderne de la ville de Paris – Paris, France
05/15/1986 – 09/07/1986
1964
Documenta III
Museum Fridericianum, Orangerie, Alte Galerie – Kassel, Germany
06/27/1964 – 10/05/1964
1962
Antagonismes II : l’objet
Musée des Arts Décoratifs – Paris, France
03/1962
1961
A 40° au dessus de Dada, les Nouveaux Réalistes
Galerie J – Paris, France
05/17/1961 – 06/10/1961
1960
Les Nouveaux Réalistes
Galerie Apollinaire – Milan MI, Italy
04/1960
Antagonismes
Musée des Arts Décoratifs – Paris, France
02/1960
La nouvelle conception artistique
Galerie Azimut – Milan MI, Italy
01/04/1960 – 02/01/1960
1959
Collaboration internationale entre artistes et architectes dans la réalisation du nouvel Opera de Gelsenkirchen
Galerie Iris Clert – Paris, France
1959
Work in Three Dimensions
Leo Castelli – New York NY, United States
10/20/1959 – 11/07/1959
1ère Biennale de Paris
Musée d’Art Moderne de la ville de Paris – Paris, France
10/02/1959 – 10/25/1959
1958
Vitesse pure et stabilité monochrome
Galerie Iris Clert – Paris, France
11/1958
Bibliography (Selected)
By the artist
Books
1961
Le Manifeste de l’Hôtel Chelsea
New York NY, United States
1961
1959
Le Dépassement de la problématique de l’art
Belgium
1959
1954
Yves Peintures
Jaén, Spain
1954
Les Fondements du Judo
Publisher: Editions Grasset – 61 rue des Saints Pères – Paris, France
1954
On the artist
Books
Yves Klein, le feu au coeur du vide
Publisher: Editions de la Différence – 47, rue de la Villette – Paris, France
Author: Restany Pierre – Paris, France
Catalogues raisonnés
2000
Catalogue raisonné des Editions et Sculptures Editées
Publisher: Editions Guy Pieters – Latem-Saint-Martin, Belgium
Author: Ledeur Jean-Paul – 12, rue Guénégaud – Paris, France
01/2000
Monographies
2000
Yves Klein
Publisher: Editions Adam Biro – 28, rue Sévigné – Paris, France
Author: Charlet Nicolas
2000
ISBN : 2876602857
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