Armand Pierre Fernandez was born november, 17th, 1928, in Nice. Since early childhood, the objects in his father's antiquity shop had no secret for him. A bright pupil, he started painting at the age of 10, and entered the National School of Decorative Arts of Nice in 1946. At age 19, he met Yves Klein and Claude Pascal who will become his two closest friends. This would be the beginning of a thrilling youth.
His interest for far eastern philosophies and Arts brought him to the Louvre's school in Paris in 1949.
Back in Nice in 1951, his attraction for painting is reinforced by the influence of the russian painter, Serge Poliakoff and Nicolas de Stael.
Following the example of Vincent Van Gogh, he signs only with his first name: Armand.
Influenced by the works of Kurt Schwitters and Jackson Pollock, he tries the « pad technique » and exhibits the first ones in Paris in 1956.
In 1958, during an exhibit at Iris Clert's, Arman realized a mistake was made on the invite and the « d » in his name was omited. He then decides to change his name to Arman.
1959: Start of the « Objects' accumulations ».
1960: Arman becomes one of the founding members of a group of Artists called the new realists, under the leadership of Pierre Restany.
1961: First New York exhibit. Use of new mediums: polyester and plexiglas.
Arman lived in the US and came frequently to Europe to exhibit.
1962: Cups of metal and welding in Inclusions (polyester) and Combustions.
1964-1965: Personal retrospectives in Krefeld, Amsterdam, Brussels and Minneapolis.
From 1967 on, Arman collaborated on projects with the industry.
Although there was a growing recognition of his work, he took on the US citizenship. Arman also traveled and exhibited in Asia. During the 80's and 90's, the range of variety in his work and tecniques increased:
« The Day After » (combustion + bronze), Painting - Brush Strokes, Dirty Paintings, Shooting Colors, brinze series, Atlantis....
At the end of the 90's, he structured his work around a succession of movements bound to the object.
1998-2001: Big retrospective of Arman took place at the National Galery of the “jeu de paume” from january to april 1998.
In 2000, Arman worked on “Fragmentations” on panel, “Fragments” (drawings and sculptures), apparition of “Superpositions”.
Arman is represented in international museums. He carried out over 500 solo exhibits, 77 of which were in museums.
Arman passed away in New York on October, 22nd, 2005.