Born 1925. Swiss painter and sculptor. A representetive artist of kinetic art who used discarded objects to creatue sculptures that moved like machines.Deeply influenced by Dadaism and was a member of the postwar French art movement of Nouveau Realism. Was active in Paris from the 1950s, where he met artists like Yves Klein and Nicki de Saint Phalle. Participated in the establishment of Nouevau Realism in 1960 and presented his self-destructing machine "Hymn to New York" at the MoMA.

1971, married Nicki de Saint Phalle. 1977, creted his fountain work in Basel. 1982, installed fountain sculptures with de Saint Phalle at Stravinsky Place next to the Pompidou Center. 1984, requested to make "Capital of Hell No. 1" by the Cezanne Museum and came to Japan. Passed away in 1991. 1996, the Tinguely Museum was built in Basel by Mario Botta.