Linda Le Kinff

Le songe, Linda Le Kinff, French Figurative Oil on Canvas, circa 70

Circa 1970

Linda Le Kinff, born in Paris in 1947, is a French-Brazilian painter known for her vibrant, sensual, and instantly recognizable work. Although she was not originally destined for an artistic career, her encounters with artists in the 1960s led her to pursue painting. At eighteen, a stay in Florence proved decisive. Inspired by the Italian Renaissance, she began studying traditional techniques such as egg tempera, gold leaf, and printmaking, returning regularly to Italy to deepen her training. At the same time, she explored more contemporary media including acrylic and silkscreen. In 1974, she met the head of Christie's contemporary art department in London, who became an important supporter and helped launch her international career. She soon began exhibiting across Europe, Japan, Australia, and the United States. Her travels, particularly to India, Japan, and Morocco, also played a key role in shaping her visual language. Influenced by Henri Matisse, Gustav Klimt, Amedeo Modigliani, and Pablo Picasso, she developed a distinctive style centered on color, light, and the female figure. She has also worked in pastel, ink, watercolor, collage, and sculpture. She was named official artist of the 1998 FIFA World Cup in 1998, and in 2010 became the first French artist selected to create artwork for the Kentucky Derby. Today, Linda Le Kinff is recognized for a refined body of work shaped by strong technical discipline, cultural influences, and decades of international experience.