Dubai – On 8 November 2022, Christie's unveils in Dubai for the first time ever 11 exceptional sculptures and other works by the French artist couple Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne, from the collection of the artists’ daughter, Madame Marie Lalanne. These pieces will lead Christie’s Sculpting Paradise sale, taking place in New York on December 7, 2022.

Taking place during Design Days in Dubai (8-12 November) at the Christie’s Dubai gallery space (8-15 November) and at Downtown Design Dubai, the preview will feature a selection of the artists’ most important works, drawn from the approximately 150 lots that will be sold at Christie’s New York in Rockefeller Center— the first sale of this scale for the artists ever to be held in the United States. This view in Dubai will vividly bring to life the enchanting power of the legendary Lalannes, who are recognized as among the most talented and original artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. The highlights in the sale explore the artists’ signature themes and creatures, from crocodile to sheep, apple to bird. François-Xavier Lalanne's creations demonstrate his virtuosic skill as architect of an imaginary world, combining powerful creativity with a mastery of gesture. The poetic work of Claude Lalanne harmonizes the realms of animal and plant.

Meagan Kelly Horsman, Managing Director, Christie’s Middle East remarks: “It is a tremendous pleasure to showcase for the first time works by Claude and Francois-Xavier Lalanne in the Middle East during Design Days Dubai. Christie’s has had the privilege of presenting works by Les Lalanne over the past three decades; despite that long commitment to the artists’ market, their work continues to surprise us with its ingenuity and profound poetry.”

Selected Works on View in Dubai
François-Xavier (1927-2008) and Claude (1925-2019) Lalanne both believed art should be part of everyday life, an ideal reflected in both the sculptural and functional aspects of their creations. The highlights in the exhibition explore the artists’ signature themes and creatures, from sharks to sheep, bears to birds.

The Collection auction in New York on 7 December 2022
This auction will be the first sale of Lalanne works of this magnitude ever held in the United States. As an artist herself, Marie Lalanne is very committed to make her parents' work more widely known and accessible. A few years after Claude Lalanne's death (2019), Marie felt that the time had come to part with some of the works she had inherited, so that they could join the collections of the growing number of art lovers around the world who are attracted by the beauty and poetry of the works and objects created by the Lalannes.

Please see the full release for further details.