Yves Klein was one of the most important French artists of the post-war period, a leading member of the Nouveau réalisme movement founded in 1960 and pioneer of performance art. Indeed, his holistic practice suggested a new way of conceptualizing the role of artist, seeing his entire life as an artwork. In his short career, he created seminal works such as his Anthropométries, water and fire paintings, and of course the series of monochrome paintings using his unique hue, International Klein Blue. He also created musical pieces, notably his Monotone Symphony of 1949, and sculptures that incorporated both significant works from art history and everyday objects.
He exhibited across Europe and in the United States, encountering leading artists of the time and, by his death in 1962, making a lasting impact that still resonates in the art world today.
