# Bernard Aubertin artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/bernard-aubertin/
Profile generated: 2026-05-01T03:17:58.626Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Birth date: 1934-07-29
- Death date: 2015-08-31
- Nationality: French
- Movements: ZERO
- Common media: painting, sculpture, collage, monochrome painting

## About Bernard Aubertin

Bernard Aubertin (1934–2015) was a French painter, sculptor, and conceptual artist best known for his red monochromatic paintings and his close association with the international ZERO movement. Born in Fontenay-aux-Roses, France, Aubertin began making monochrome works in 1958 after a pivotal encounter with Yves Klein in Montparnasse in 1957. He left Paris in 1961 and eventually settled in Germany, where he lived and worked from 1990 until his death in Reutlingen in 2015. Aubertin's practice extended across painting, sculpture, collage, and relief, with red remaining the dominant chromatic focus throughout his career. His work is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and he is represented in major library authority files including the RKD, VIAF, and the Library of Congress.

## Common works and media

Aubertin's most commonly encountered works include red monochrome paintings on canvas, nail-relief panels, fire-related works incorporating matches or burn marks, collages, and works on paper. Sculptural reliefs and mixed-media constructions also appear at auction. Editioned prints and multiples exist in smaller numbers. The red monochrome surface — whether painted, burned, or constructed — is the unifying visual signature across media. Works range from intimate works on paper to large-scale canvases and wall reliefs.

## Market and appraisal context

Bernard Aubertin's work appears regularly in Post-War and Contemporary Art sales at international auction houses. Key valuation factors include the specific medium (monochrome painting, sculptural relief, or work on paper), the date of execution with earlier works from the late 1950s and 1960s being scarcer, provenance quality especially documented ZERO-group exhibition history, and overall condition. Aubertin's connection to Yves Klein and the ZERO network adds art-historical significance that influences collector demand. Collectors should verify provenance and consult current comparable auction records for up-to-date market positioning.

## Appraisily data basis

This artist page combines identity research from museum records and international library authority files with publicly available auction-house context. Appraisily artist pages draw on auction records, sale dates, realized prices, and comparable lots when those records are available. The information here is intended as a starting point for appraisal research, not a substitute for professional valuation.

## Sources

- RKD — Netherlands Institute for Art History: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/95608
- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q822259
- VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/29674903/
- Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n99256028
- The Museum of Modern Art: https://www.moma.org/artists/69860
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Aubertin