Niki de Saint Phalle, born as Catherine-Marie-Agnès Fal de Saint Phalle, was a French-American artist. She is known for sculpture gardens ‘Tarot Garden’ and ‘Queen Califia’s Magical Circle,’ and sculpture series, ‘Nanas’ and ‘Black Heroes.’ She gained attention for her early series of work dubbed ‘Tirs,’ or ‘Shooting Paintings.’ She used diverse materials in the construction of sculptures. She collaborated with many modern and contemporary sculptors and artists, including her second husband, Jean Tinguely. Her works have been exhibited and installed at numerous venues in different countries of America, Europe and Asia. The harmful materials and chemicals she used resulted in the deterioration of health and succumbed to respiratory failure in 2002.