LES LALANNE'S MENAGERIE
For over half a century, the duo of François-Xavier Lalanne (1927–2008) and his wife Claude (born in 1924) created elegant sculptures and furniture, frequently with a playful, zoomorphic touch. The designs of “Les Lalanne,” as they are more commonly called, have often appealed to an especially louche corner of the Parisian demimonde: both Yves Saint Laurent (seen above in an exclusive archival image with François-Xavier) and Serge Gainsbourg were strong supporters of the duo’s practice. This spring, rising landscape designer Madison Cox will transform Paul Kasmin’s 515 West 27th Street space into a ‘mini-labyrinth’ populated at every turn with sterling examples of the artists’ work. The show will feature over twenty-five works from both past and present, and will culminate with a site-specific installation inspired by Les Lalanne’s design for Saint Laurent’s salon, commissioned by the fashion icon in the Seventies.
Les Lalanne’s exhibition will run from Thursday to May 2 at Paul Kasmin Gallery, 515 West 27th Street, New York.