Signed Arman/Armand Fernandez, 'Blue Variations'. Editioned Silkscreen, circa 1978
Arman, Armand Fernandez (French/American,1928 - 2005). 'Blue Variations', circa 1978. Silkscreen depicting deconstructed violins, pencil signed lower right and numbered 85/150 lower, left.

Armand Pierre Arman, whose birth name was Armand Fernandez, and who used the single name of Arman, was born in nice, france in 1928. His father, an antique dealer and weekend painter, had moved the family from algeria to southern france. His first exposure to painting was through his father, who gave him art lessons. In 1946, he began his painting study at the ecole nationale d'art decoratif in nice, where he also earned degrees in mathematics and philosophy. There he met artists Claude Pascal and Yves Klein, and together they hitchhiked across europe. He completed his studies in nice in 1949, and went on to the ecole du louvre, studying oriental art and archaeology. Some of his first works were in abstract and surrealist styles. He first exhibited in london and paris in 1956. Best known for his 'assemblages' created from found objects, Arman divided his time between france and the united states.

Arman began his Accumulations in 1959, where collections of like, everyday objects were crowded together in boxes, or vitrines. The objects were not arranged, expressing an element of chance in his work. Along with Yves Klein, the two became founding members of the 'nouveau realisme' (new realism), a group interested in creating different and new ways of thinking about real life and art. Yves Klein opened an exhibition entitled Le in 1958, consisting of empty gallery space to intrigue viewers about non-material things. Arman responded in 1960 with his exhibition of 'Le Plein', in which he filled the gallery with debris he collected from the streets of paris. These non-utilized items, he believed, had their own distinctive worth, which should not be lost. His work was shown as part of an exhibition called 'The Art of Assemblage at the museum of modern Art' in new york. Initially an abstract painter, Arman became more interested in the ideas surrounding the emergence of pop art.

The artist became a citizen of the united states in 1973, living in new york and working for amnesty international for a number of years. His works are held in the collections of the museum of modern art in new york, the national gallery of art in washington, d.c., the tate gallery in london, and the musée d’art moderne ed d’art contemporain, in nice, among others.
Sheet - 26" high x 40" wide. Frame - 37" high x 50" wide.

Very good. No tears, restorations. Float mounted  and nicely framed in updated moulding.