Collection: Yves Klein

Yves Klein (1928–1962) was a French artist born in Nice and active in Paris. He was a leading member of the Nouveau Réalisme movement, founded in 1960 by critic Pierre Restany. Klein is also recognized as the founder of monochrome painting.

Klein's artistic practice involved radical techniques and conceptual gestures. He utilized pure pigments, gold leaf, fire, water, and live nude models, which he termed "living brushes," in his work. He developed and patented International Klein Blue (IKB), a distinct ultramarine hue, and was a pioneer in performance art, exemplified by his 1960 photographic work Leap into the Void.

His innovative approach laid groundwork for much of the art of the 1960s and 1970s. Klein is considered a forerunner of both Minimal Art and Pop Art, influencing subsequent artistic developments.