Niki de Saint-Phalle

Niki de Saint Phalle (born Catherine Marie-Agnès Fal de Saint Phalle) was a French-American sculptor, painter, filmmaker, and author renowned for her colorful, monumental sculptures like the Nanas and her involvement in Nouveau Réalisme.[5][9] Born into a wealthy family affected by the stock market crash, she began painting after a severe nervous breakdown in the 1950s, later gaining fame with her provocative 'shooting' performances and large-scale public works.[1][2][3] She passed away in 2002 after a career marked by social activism and exploration of themes like femininity and violence.[4][6]