Yves Klein (28 April 1928 - 6 June 1962) was a French artist** considered an important figure in post-war European art.
He was a leading member of the French artistic movement of Nouveau réalisme founded in 1960 by art critic Pierre Restany.
Klein was a pioneer in the development of performance art, and is seen as an inspiration to and as a forerunner of minimal art, as well as pop art.