François-Xavier Lalanne was born in 1927 in Agen. After the war, he moved to Paris where he studied at the Académie Julian to become a painter. On the occasion of his first exhibition at the Cimaise Gallery in Paris in 1952, Lalanne met Claude Dupeux (Lalanne), his future wife. After meeting her, he gave up painting and started working with her.
The first joint exhibition for Claude and François-Xavier, titled "Zoophite," took place in 1964 at the J. Gallery. They revealed their creations — hybrids of sculptures and everyday objects. In 1966, they introduced themselves under the name Les Lalanne.
The two artists each created their own works but shared a common universe inspired by the animal and plant world and often exhibited together.
François-Xavier invented a bestiary composed of monkeys, rhinos, donkeys, camels, toads, hippos and cats. Among them, the sheep was undoubtedly his favorite animal. Alone or in a flock, with or without a head, sheathed in the fleece of sheep or not, his sheep sculptures can also constitute seats. His will, shared by Claude, was to desacralize the sculpture to give it a familiar dimension.
François-Xavier is also known for his public commissions. For example, in France he created two concrete pigeons in the city of Grande-Borne in Grigny, and Les Pleureuses (“The Mourners”) is a monumental fountain created in 1986 by François-Xavier and Claude that was installed at the Hakone Open-Air Museum in Japan.
In 1968, François-Xavier was made a Knight of Arts and Letters. His works have been acquired by great collectors such as Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, the Rothschilds and Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles. The work of Les Lalanne is exhibited throughout the world, presented in both galleries and museums. The retrospective organized in 2010 by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs is one of the last major exhibitions of the duo. After a long career, François-Xavier died in 2008 in Ury.
Find authentic François-Xavier Lalanne sculptures, prints and other art and furniture on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by Bailly Gallery Geneva-Paris)
François Xavier Lalanne, bird on lillies, 2006
By François-Xavier Lalanne
Located in Saint-Didier, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Natural history - François-Xavier Lalanne Etching Numbered out of 70 and signed F.X.L. in pencil Robert and Lydie Dutrou editors 2006. Paper size: 40x33cm Work size: 16x19.5cm
Paper
François Xavier lalanne the spider 2003
By François-Xavier Lalanne
Located in Saint-Didier, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
François Xavier lalanne l'araignée the spider lithograph circa 2003 signed in pencil lower right limited edition of 75 copies from the "ordinar...
Paper
François Xavier Lalanne - Birds- 2006
By François-Xavier Lalanne
Located in Saint-Didier, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
François Xavier Lalanne Etching Signed F.X.L. in pencil Robert and Lydie Dutrou editors 2006. Paper size: 27x37.5cm Work size: 19x16cm
Paper
$255
H 12.41 in W 11.03 in D 0.2 in
Harry Bunce, June, The Happy year, Harry Bunce, Limited edition print, Animal art
By Harry Bunce
Located in Deddington, GB
Harry Bunce June The Happy Year Limited Edition Print Edition of 365 (one for each day of the year) Image Size: H 31.5cm x W 28cm Signed Sold Unframed...
Paper
$211
H 5.52 in W 7.88 in D 0.08 in
Warming Up - Lithograph by J.J Grandville - 1852
By J. J. Grandville
Located in Roma, IT
Warming Up is an original lithographs by J.J. Grandville from "Scènes de la vie privée et publique des animaux, 1852. Published by Manesq & Harvard, Paris. Good Conditions. The ar...
Paper, Lithograph
Chimera No. 2
By Leonor Fini
Located in Columbia, MO
Leonor Fini (Argentine-French, 1907 - 1996) was an independent and visionary artist whose work defied categorization within Surrealism, despite her association with its key figures i...
Paper, Etching, Aquatint
Chimera No. 1
By Leonor Fini
Located in Columbia, MO
Leonor Fini (Argentine-French, 1907 - 1996) was an independent and visionary artist whose work defied categorization within Surrealism, despite her association with its key figures i...
Paper, Etching, Aquatint
$471
H 21.66 in W 15.36 in D 0.04 in
The Flyer - Etching on Paper by Marcel Chirnoaga - 1969
By Marcel Chirnoaga
Located in Roma, IT
The Flyer is an original artwork realized in 1969 by Marcel Chirnoaga. Black and white etching. Hand signed and dated on the lower right margin. Numbered and titled on the lower l...
Paper, Etching
$3,825
H 28.35 in W 36.23 in D 0.79 in
Salvador Dalì (1904-1989) - The Elephant and Jupiter's Monkey - Drypoint etching
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Varese, IT
Rare deluxe issue printed on extremely fine Japanese paper (hand colored in stencil). Limited edition, numbered 235/250 in lower left corner. Signed in pencil by artist in lower rig...
Paper, Watercolor, Drypoint, Etching
$9,500
H 30 in W 22 in
L'Ouraboros, Surrealist Lithograph on Parchment by Salvador Dali
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Long Island City, NY
Dalí's Ouroboros is more naturalistic than his other prints in Alchimie des Philosophes, and its features are similar to an eel or sea serpent. It is cut into many pieces, though the...
Parchment Paper, Lithograph
$600
H 11.03 in W 14.97 in
Dancer - Hand-signed and numbered lithograph Leonor Fini Surrealist, 1975
By Leonor Fini
Located in New York, NY
Leonor Fini Dancer, 1975 Colored etching on Arches paper 11 × 15 in 28 × 38 cm Limited edition of 185
Lithograph
$1,250
H 40 in W 47 in
French Prawn, Woodcut Print on Rice Paper by Leonard Baskin
By Leonard Baskin
Located in Long Island City, NY
This woodcut print was created by American artist Leonard Baskin. Baskin is well known for his somewhat grotesque, intricate, surreal drawings and natural subject matter. This print ...
Rice Paper, Woodcut
$650
H 19 in W 16 in
La Grande Parade des Chats etching by Surrealist Leonor Fini Cats Hats French
By Leonor Fini
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original hand signed and editioned etching by Leonor Fini from her "Parade des Chats " Cat Parade Series. This is an E.A or an edition of the artist. This piece comes in an ar...
Archival Paper, Etching
$600
H 11.03 in W 14.97 in
Surrealist composition - Hand-signed lithograph Leonor Fini Surrealist, 1975
By Leonor Fini
Located in New York, NY
Leonor Fini Surrealist composition, 1975 Colored etching on Arches paper 11 × 15 in 28 × 38 cm Limited edition of 185
Lithograph
$1,200
H 12.5 in W 18 in
"Tethered Nomad" 77/90, Signed Sepia Toned Lithograph of Wooden Carousel Horse
By Ancel Nunn
Located in Austin, TX
Lithograph on Paper Page Size: 12.5 x 18 in. Frame Size: 19 x 24.75 Signed, bottom right, in pencil "Ancel Nunn" Numbered, bottom center, in pencil "77/90" Titled, bottom left, in pe...
Archival Paper, Lithograph