LES LALANNE    May 7 - Jul 3, 2009

Paul Kasmin Gallery is pleased to announce our upcoming exhibition of work by Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne, on view May 7th through July 3rd. Known individually and collectively since the 1960s, Les Lalanne have developed a style that defines inventive, poetic and surrealist sculpture. This will mark their second exhibition at Paul Kasmin Gallery, and only the second in New York since 1988.

Two artists collaborating for decades, Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne offer separate bodies of work differing aesthetically. Interweaving intricate visual motifs from both flora and fauna, Claude Lalanne creates organically-inspired, airy, functional sculpture. Having rediscovered the Renaissance art of casting forms from life, then employing contemporary electro-plating techniques, Claude achieves a delicacy and sensitivity unparalleled in cast bronze. The exhibition will include “Choupatte (Très Grande),” a fantastical major work combining an oversized cast of a cabbage with the legs of a chicken.

François-Xavier similarly found inspiration in nature. In his words, “The animal world constitutes the richest and most varied forms on the planet.” His works consist of a menagerie of animals, stylized forms oftentimes married with functionality, exemplified by “L’Ane de Nathalie,” a donkey whose side opens to reveal a writing desk. His works achieve streamlined elegance in their profound simplicity. In this exhibition, Paul Kasmin Gallery will be exhibiting François-Xavier’s last planned works including,“Singe Avisé (Très Grand).” The artist passed away in December of 2008.

work has been exhibited extensively in renowned exhibitions, and most recently, featured prominently in the sale of collection of Yves Saint Laurent. They are represented in major collections including the Cooper Hewitt Museum, Musée Nationale d’Art Moderne/Centre Georges Pompidou, Musée d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris, the City of Paris, the City of Santa Monica, and the City of Jerusalem.