Niki de Saint Phalle

Escondido Arts Partnership Escondido Municipal Gallery
has the honor of  exhibiting works by internationally acclaimed artist
Niki de saint Phalle (1930-2002)

The May 15, 2021 through April 2022 exhibition Colorations features a kaleidoscope of colorful works with a large-scale steel and glass mosaic “skinny” sculpture of a rhinoceros and gouache paintings and drawings.
A rhino, frog, and monkey are depicted in bright, wondrous color, characteristic of this celebrated late French-American artist (circa 1995 – 1997).

The artworks are on loan from the Niki Charitable Arts Foundation. Established by the artist Niki de Saint Phalle, the foundation represents Niki’s personal collection of more than 1,000 sculptures and 5,000 graphic works of art. The Niki Charitable Art Foundation owns the copyrights in works by Niki de Saint Phalle and authorizes exhibitions and publications about the artist and her artwork throughout the world. The Foundation seeks to promote and enhance the public’s understanding of Saint Phalle’s artwork and provides research assistance, authorized restoration of her works and registration of qualifying works attributed to the artist.

“I feel united to other beings. Perhaps these are the reasons why my work can be understood by people from different walks of life.”
 – love Niki

Niki de Saint Phalle is a renowned international artist who is known for her grand and whimsical figures created through bright mosaics.  Creator of the world-famous Nanas, The Tarot Garden and Queen Califia’s Magical Circle in Escondido CA and more.  Niki de Saint Phalle, was born 29 of October 1930 in Paris as Catherine Marie-Agnès Fal de Saint Phalle, died 21 of May 2002 in San Diego. She is recognizable in San Diego through her public works of art such as Coming Together at the San Diego Convention Center, Sun God at the University of California San Diego, and Queen Califia’s Magical Circle at Kit Carson Park in Escondido.

The circle will be open on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of this month
(May 8 and 22) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will return to the normal schedule in June.  Normal operating hours are  Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. – noon  and 2nd & 4th Saturdays of each month 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The City of Escondido is seeking adult volunteers to serve as greeters at Queen Califia’s Magical Circle sculpture garden in Kit Carson Park. The sculpture garden is located on the western side of Kit Carson Park in the Iris Sankey Arboretum. No specific knowledge of art is required, just a desire to allow the public to experience artist Niki de Saint Phalle’s only American sculpture garden. High School students seeking to volunteer are required to volunteer in pairs. High School students: this activity may qualify for Community Service hours! Click here for more details 

“I am condemned to show everything. That is my task. Every thought every emotion I feel and think is made visible and becomes a color a texture a subject a form.”  –  Niki de Saint Phalle