Photography by David Cannon
The reputation of Niki de Saint Phalle (1930–2002), French-American wife and collaborator of the more-famous Jean Tinguely, the Swiss neo-Dadaist sculptor, is set to rise thanks to a recent exhibition at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec. The 150 late works on display featured her fantasy Italian medieval town inspired by the symbols on a deck of tarot cards, and her polyurethane-sculpture Nana series: tall, dancing voluptuously inflated Botero-esque figures in bright, psychedelic Peter Max hues. The 15,000-sq.-ft. exhibit unfolded as an enigmatic landscape of labyrinths, bridges, staircases, fountains, pools, grottoes, vaulted passages and arches, the latter framing views of adjacent galleries. Modular wooden elements and lightweight reusable structures formed the skeletal framework; textured, vibrantly coloured surfaces channeled the artwork’s hyperactive energy while custom mounts presented tactile pieces within arm’s reach while ensuring conservation. Integrated lighting and interactive audiovisual systems further channeled the artist’s vision.
As appeared in the July/August 2026 Best of Canada Awards issue of Canadian Interiors magazine.
See all the 2026 Best of Canada Awards winners
