This summer, two exceptional exhibitions in France and the UK invite audiences to explore the vibrant and imaginative world of Niki de Saint Phalle. Running until October 5, 2025, the Hôtel de Caumont in Aix-en-Provence presents Le Bestiaire Magique, while Hauser & Wirth Somerset showcases Myths & Machines until February 1, 2026.

Housed within the elegant setting of an 18th-century mansion, Le Bestiaire Magique invites visitors into the realm of fantastical creatures that animate Niki de Saint Phalle’s work. The show traces the influence of animals and mythical beings on her practice, weaving together layers of symbolism, legend, and autobiography. Curated by Lucia Pesapane, it offers an expansive journey through the artist’s creative development.

On view are her celebrated Nanas, playful, boldly coloured sculptures that exude joy and champion femininity, alongside rarely shown drawings and correspondence, which reveal intimate glimpses into her working methods and inner world. Some of the sculptures are displayed in the grand courtyard of the spectacular venue.

Amid the tranquil landscape of Somerset, Myths & Machines, presented by Hauser & Wirth, delves into the rich creative friendship between Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely. Presented for the first time in the UK, the exhibition brings together more than 60 works spanning thirty years of their collaboration.

Saint Phalle’s exuberant, vividly coloured sculptures are shown in dialogue with Tinguely’s intricate kinetic constructions, united by recurring motifs of mythology, metamorphosis, and social critique. These are exhibitions not to miss this summer.

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Images: Niki de Saint Phalle at Hauser&Wirth and at Hotel de Caumont, copyright Hauser & Wirth and Hotel de Caumont.