Arman, born Armand Pierre Fernandez in Nice, France, in 1928, was one of the leading figures of Nouveau Réalisme. After studying at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Nice and the École du Louvre in Paris, he developed a distinctive artistic language exploring the relationship between human beings, consumer culture, and everyday objects.
Arman became internationally recognized for his “Accumulations” – assemblages of mass-produced objects presented in new and unexpected contexts. Through his “Colères” (objects violently destroyed and reassembled) and “Poubelles” (collections of discarded materials), he examined themes of consumerism, repetition, and the passage of time in modern society.
Working across sculpture, painting, graphic art, and editions, Arman combined elements of conceptual art and popular culture while critically reflecting on the industrialized world.
Since the 1960s, Arman’s work has been exhibited internationally and is held in major museums and private collections worldwide. Today, he is regarded as one of the most important artists of post-war European art and a key figure of Nouveau Réalisme.