Leaping Nana 2016

This vibrant sérigraphie titled Leaping Nana is a powerful late edition drawn from Niki de Saint Phalle’s iconic Nana universe. Printed in 2016 under the auspices of the Niki Charitable Art Foundation, the work revisits one of the artist’s most celebrated themes: the Nana as an emblem of freedom, joy, and unapologetic femininity.

The composition presents a dynamic female silhouette caught mid-leap, her body outlined in bold, flowing contours against a striking red background. The figure’s interior bursts with decorative motifs—hearts, flowers, and rhythmic patterns—recalling the visual language of folk art, pop culture, and personal symbolism that defined Saint Phalle’s work. The contrast between the dark, simplified outer shape and the richly patterned interior creates a sense of energy contained within motion.

The Nanas, first introduced in the 1960s, were revolutionary in their time. Far from passive or idealized representations, they embodied strength, autonomy, and celebration. In Leaping Nana, movement itself becomes meaning: the figure appears airborne, liberated from gravity, social constraint, or traditional expectations. The leap suggests confidence, playfulness, and power—central ideas behind the Nana Power concept developed in the early 1970s.

The bold colour palette—dominated by red, black, green, and white—heightens the work’s visual impact while reinforcing its emotional charge. Red conveys vitality and passion, while the green and white outlines accentuate the figure’s fluid motion. The overall effect is both joyful and assertive, a hallmark of Saint Phalle’s mature graphic style.

As a 2016 sérigraphie, this work bridges historical creation and contemporary accessibility. It allows collectors and audiences to engage with Saint Phalle’s enduring message decades after its inception. Leaping Nana stands not only as a celebration of the female body in motion, but also as a reaffirmation of the artist’s lifelong commitment to art as a vehicle for empowerment, optimism, and social change.

Screenprint

Pop Art

Part of the series Nana power 1970 - Niki charitable art foundation

Printed by ADAGP in Paris

Good condition