PAD London 2024 Claude Lalanne × Rick Owens
London
Claude Lalanne
While Claude Lalanne was known for blending nature with art, François-Xavier Lalanne was known for creating animal sculptures that transformed everyday animals into extraordinary art pieces, highlighting their unique forms and the inherent beauty found in nature’s creations. Differentiating herself from her husband’s style, Claude Lalanne derives her inspiration from nature, and her work often manifested itself in the form of decorative flora and fauna, drawing from Surrealism and Art Nouveau in her furniture pieces.
Known for blending nature with art, Lalanne also created jewellery often moulded from twisted flowers, leaves and branches made in copper and gilt bronze. She was fascinated by botanical and natural forms, and she expertly translated natural forms into sculptural pieces. Her unique style of decorative design and fine art resonated with the fashion world, with many of her pieces collected by leading fashion designers like Yves Saint Laurent. Claude Lalanne’s collaboration with Yves Saint Laurent resulted in exquisite jewellery pieces that incorporated her signature motifs of flora and fauna, enhancing Saint Laurent’s fashion collections with an organic, surreal touch.
Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne attracted a prestigious clientele early in their careers. Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé were among their first patrons, collecting and commissioning their unique pieces and Peter Marino, a renowned architect, was an admirer of their work. Musician Serge Gainsbourg was inspired by Claude’s sculpture of a man with a cabbage head, leading to his iconic album “L’homme à tête de chou.” These connections underscore the Lalannes‘ impact on both the art and fashion worlds, blending creativity with functional design. In 2017 she collaborated with Dior, creating intricate accessories for their runway shows. These pieces, often moulded from leaves, flowers, and branches in copper and gilt bronze, exemplified her ability to merge natural elements with high fashion, highlighting her influence in the design world.
The fusion of Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne’s work seamlessly blends aesthetic appeal with functionality. For instance, Claude’s Ginkgo furniture series transforms natural forms into practical objects, such as tables and chairs, adorned with intricate ginkgo leaf designs. Similarly, François-Xavier’s Moutons (Sheep) sculptures serve as both whimsical art pieces and functional seating. Since the 1980s, they have been represented by Mitterand Galerie in Paris.
Exhibitions