A French
artist, born in
Nice on 28 August 1928 and died in Paris on 6 June 1962. He was famous for
abstract works and for
happenings or
performance art; and also especially for a particular intense shade of
blue resembling
ultramarine which in 1957 he patented as
IKB or International Klein Blue.
He combined these amiable hobbies in what he called anthropometry, when live nude women dipped in IKB rolled around on canvas on the floor, while an orchestra played selections from his own music, and an appreciative audience watched.
Other works include the Winged Victory of Samothrace in blue, sponges in blue, a man holding flame in his hand, and works burned out on the canvas with fire.