Contemporary art’s most defiant and rule-breaking figures, Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely, come together in their first major joint exhibition in the UK at Hauser & Wirth Somerset. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Tinguely’s birth, the Myths & Machines exhibition showcases their creative partnership spanning over three decades.
The exhibition unites two opposing poles of art. On one side are Saint Phalle’s vibrant, voluptuous, and convention-defying female figures, the iconic Nanas; on the other, Tinguely’s kinetic “anti-machines,” crafted from scrap metal and discarded materials, satirizing the flaws of modern technology. Saint Phalle’s “shooting paintings” from 1961, created by firing a rifle at paint-filled canvases as a response to political violence, embraced destruction as an act of catharsis and renewal—a process supported by Tinguely.
Collaborative works like La Grande Tête, where Saint Phalle’s enigmatic, abstract face rests atop Tinguely’s sturdy mechanical base, perfectly exemplify their artistic synthesis. Beyond creating individual works, the duo shared a passion for transforming art into a lived dream through large-scale projects like the Tarot Garden. This exhibition celebrates the power of art, rebellion, and boundless imagination.
Exhibition Details:
Artists: Niki de Saint Phalle & Jean Tinguely
Venue: Hauser & Wirth Somerset, UK
Dates: On view through February 1, 2026
