Larger than life and brightly colored—that, of course, describes the Nana figures that made the Franco-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle famous around the world in the 1960s. Yet, even before she created her iconic trademark, which expresses the zest for life and an alternative, utopian image of female identity, women had been the main subject of her art. Through paintings, assemblages, sculptures, lithographs, and drawings, the catalogue finally also takes a look at the female figures that are less well known than the Nanas showing images of women tied to their various roles in society: the goddess, the bride, the fertility figure, the mother, and the crone. At the same time it perfectly traces the development of de Saint Phalle’s fierce confrontation of political conflicts of the day, as well as traditional role models. “I wanted the world outside to belong to me, as well. At a very young age I got the message that men had the power, and I wanted it.” Exhibition: Museum Ostwall at the Dortmunder U 10.12.2016–23.4.2017