I made it to the stunning new gallery space for Salon 94 just as the Niki de Saint Phalle pieces were being prepared for their crates. What a joyful and rich display of this talented artist’s work. It felt like the gallery had met the moment joining these pieces in a long overdue tribute which showed the enormous energy and serious craftsmanship that even her mini Nanas demanded. Saint Phalle launched her own production line to fund her art- dreading ceding power to any funders or committees. While she was reviled for this in her lifetime, considered too crass and commercial, she took control of her output as a way to make more art. And they look spritely and gay and much like Calder’s circus, they were a path to other opportunities.
Niki de Saint Phalle: while waiting for the PS One retrospective, Salon 94 has some jewels
Image courtesy Salon 94
I am mourning the Niki de Saint Phalle show that was to have been at MoMA PS1 beginning in April. My ardent hope is that it is rescheduled. More than ever, Niki's art and life are intriguing and seem utterly contemporary. Salon94 has a rare sculpture, La Cabeza, made in 2000 comprised of foam and resin, encrusted with tiles, shells, and mirrors like her famous Tuscan Tarot Garden. It is both a Day of the Dead image and a meditation room. Niki was fearless and ambitious. The gallery has tentative plans for a major show of her work in 2021. I think people are going to be surprised just how much she anticipated so many important themes for art and for women.