François-Xavier Lalanne French, 1924 -2008

Born in Agen, France in 1927, François-Xavier Lalanne is one of the most celebrated sculptures and installation artists of the twentieth Century and is renowned for his innovative hybrid creations that married sculpture with design. 

Aged 18, Lalanne moved to Paris to study painting at the Académie Julian. Settling into the artistic district of Montparnasse, he inserted himself into avant-garde, artistic circles, befriending the likes of Constantin Brâncuși, Marcel Duchamp, Max Ernst, and Jean Tinguely.

In 1952, his early ambition to become a painter underwent a pivotal shift after meeting his wife-to-be and sculptor, Claude Dupeux. Lalanne abandoned painting altogether to focus solely on sculpture. The two artists worked alongside one other and shared a common interest inspired by the animal and plant world. After the pair were married in 1966, they became known as ‘Les Lalanne’, collaborating on many projects throughout their career.

François-Xavier Lalanne's iconic sculptures ranged from rhinoceros-shaped drinks cabinets to gazelle-themed tables, with a distinct emphasis on functional everyday furniture infused with mythological and animal imagery. His renowned ‘béliers’ series, made up of life-sized,woolly sheep sculptures that were intended to invade collectors’ living rooms, exemplify Lalanne’s playful humour and Surrealist influences.

Lalanne’s work can be found in numerous prominent collections world-wide, including in Yves Saint Laurent’s and Pierre Bergé’s, as well as the National Design Museum, New York, Musée Nationale d’Art Moderne, Paris, Musée d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris and the Centre Pompidou, Paris. 

François-Xavier Lalanne passed away in 2008 aged 81 years old.