Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, in 1930. She grew up in both America and France and worked as a model in her youth. In the 1950s, she began painting as a self-taught artist and embarked on her artistic career.
In the early 1960s, she gained attention for her "shooting paintings," which involved firing a gun at bags of paint to complete the artwork. Around this time, she joined the **Nouveau Réalisme** group, advocated by art critic Pierre Restany, and became an important artist in the new wave of contemporary art.
Later, she created the "Nanas" series of sculptures, featuring female figures with rich curves, and gained global popularity for their bright, powerful colors and vibrant forms.
She also married Swiss artist Jean Tinguely, with whom she collaborated on various projects. Together, they created large-scale sculptures and public art across Europe.
From the 1970s onwards, she dedicated herself to building the massive sculpture garden, **Giardino dei Tarocchi** (Tarot Garden), in Tuscany, Italy, completing it after approximately 20 years.
She passed away in California, USA, in 2002.
Niki de Saint Phalle is highly regarded as a significant artist in contemporary art for her unique works symbolizing female power and freedom.