Born in Paris in 1960, now living in Bristol, England, Lucianne has made sculpture since she was a child. She grew up in a bohemian artistic environment; her mother is a potter and her father a painter, her Aunt was one of Picassos Muses (Girl with the Pony tail 1953).
The human form has always been Lucianne’s passion. It holds endless possibilities albeit just as pure sculptural form or as a socio-political reflection or comment. Hugely influenced by contemporary dance and physical theatre, she explores dramatic movement as figures fly, fall and dance through space.
In her own words;
“I see the human form as the interface between the mental, emotional and spiritual processes inside and the external manifestation of these in the world. I am fascinated by the complexity of the human experience and from this I am compelled and inspired to make sculpture”
The human form leads her investigation into the vulnerabilities and vibrancy of human nature often referencing archetypes of ancient mythologies especially Abrahamic and Greco/Roman. Here one can see Lucianne’s obsession with the myth of Icarus, this winged subject also allows her to express a wide range of dynamic movement.
In ‘Wild Things’ and ‘Rambeaux’ one can see her playful interest in anthropomorphic figures as the writer Howard Male comments very succinctly;
"Some of the work subtly ‘has a go’ at male machismo while simultaneously paying tribute to the whole classical culture that was largely their (male) invention"
Since Living in Bristol Her latest works ‘Urban Myths’ and ‘The Three Disgraces’ integrate classical archetypes with urban reactive art; merging the ancient and the contemporary stories of gods and mortals,
"In the tension, movement and sheer life in the craft of Lucianne Lassalle there is a feeling of anticipation that asks a question of you every time you see it. On seeing her sculpture one is struck by the beauty and powerful expressiveness of the form and its inherent flexibility as a vehicle to inspire" Jeff Pirie
Lucianne works from the life model, as well as from photos and memory. Working on pieces on all scales from 15cm to 2 meters, she works in initially in clay the sculpture is then cast into limited edition Bronzes.
Biography - Background
Coming from an artistic family, I have made sculpture since I was a child.both my grandparents were painters, my father is a painter and my mother a potter. My aunt Sylvette David was a model for Picasso.
My mother always had a bag of clay tucked away somewhere and she would often get it out on the kitchen table and we would all get out hands covered in the wonderful stuff. My favorite Primary school teacher was also a potter and we would often make clay sculptures of strange mythological beasts at school. I remember getting often locked in the school library as I was intently reading my favorite illustrated book of Greek myths. My father had lots of beautiful drawings lying around the house of male and female nudes he just was able to draw them so wonderfully and freely, he was a great inspiration to me. Of course every wall in the house had pictures painted or drawn by some member of the family or other.
Although I went to Art School; Winchester school of Art, I did not have any formal training in Figurative sculpture as the Art tutors at the time had no interest in it. As I was interested in Renaissance, Baroque and nineteenth century French Sculptors; Michelangelo, Bernini and Rodin are amongst my favourites my interests didn’t tally with the tutors who were coming from abstract expressionist period of the sixties so figurative art was looked down on as a bit passé. So as a consequence I had to teach my self to sculpt the human form. My work has greatly changed over the years, it has taken a lifetime to learn and I am still learning. Recently I have attended some formal workshops run by tutors from the Florence academy of fine art to enhance my understanding of anatomy, I love it!
I frequently work from a life model, as well as from photos and memory. Working on pieces on all scales from 15cm to 2 meters. I work in initially in clay, and then I take my clay sculpture to the mould makers who make a silicon rubber and fiberglass mould. The mould is used to make limited edition casts in either Bronze or Bronze Resin. The lost wax bronzes are made at the art foundry by making a wax cast then from that a bronze cast. I collect the raw bronze casts and I patinate them with heat and chemicals, to give colour and depth to the sculpture, which is an important part of the process. Then I mount the sculptures onto stone bases. I also work in stoneware clay often my larger work is fired in sections in a kiln and then reconstructed for exhibition.
Chronological Biography
1960 Born in Paris, moved to UK in 1964
1976 Went back to Paris and studied life drawing at Paul Colin night school while au-pair girl during the day
1978 Canterbury School of Art (Kent Institute) for a Foundation course in the Arts.
1982 BA Hons Degree at Winchester School of Art
1983 Studio in London and first solo show at Crucial Gallery in Notting Hill Gate London.
1984 Israel for a year exploring other interests; performance art, especially vocal improvisation. Worked alongside several contemporary musicians including Yossi Mar-Haim. Performed both in The Tel Aviv Museum and in the Jerusalem Museum as well as several art Galleries.
1985 Studio in London under West Way continue exhibiting with Crucial gallery.
1986 Los Angeles. Worked freelance as a sculptor in the film industry, making sets and props for commercials and film. Worked for Nuline cinema, and Hannah Barbara making walk-about Flintstone character heads amongst others.
1988 Returned to UK and gave birth to daughter Liora.
1990 Studio in Mayfield Kent , exhibiting in Kent and Sussex Galleries. Started teaching in Adult learning centres
1992 Lived, sculpted and exhibited residency on Vancouver Island Canada for a year.
1993 Brighton studio, and continued teaching sculpture classes/workshops to adults: 1998 PGCE Secondary School Art Teaching Brighton University
1999 MA Performing Arts Middlesex University
2000 Moved to Totnes Devon, Founder member of the Southwest Sculptors Group. Started getting work cast in Bronze, begun showing work at Art Fairs with Sheridan Russell Gallery
2008 Moved to Scotland begun to investigate ceramics, continued with bronze work.
2014 Moved to Bristol showing work with several galleries and also several the Art and Art & antique Fairs in the UK
2016 Studied Portrait Sculpture at The Florence academy
Educational Qualifications
2000 PGCE Brighton University
1998 MA Middlesex University
1982 BA Hons Winchester Sch of Art
1979 Foundation Canterbury Sch of Art
Selected recent shows
Year Venue
2019 Beaulieu House and Estate
2019 Fresh art Fair cheltenham
2019 Different Gallery London
2018 Different Gallery London
2018 Bowie Gallery – Uncanny Valley
2018 Doddington Hall sculpture event
2018 Fresh Art Fair Cheltenham
2018 Affordable art fair Battersea + Hampstead
2017 Kew Gardens London – Sculpt at Kew
2017 Society of Women artists The Mall Galleries London
2017 Fresh art Cheltenham
2017 Tunbridge- wells art Fair
2017 Chelsea Art Fair London
2017 Chelsea Art & Antiques fair
2017 Affordable art fairs Battersea + Hampstead
2016 Cambridge art Fair
2016 Decorative Art and Antiques fair Battersea
2016 Edinburgh art Fair
2016 Doddington Hall Sculpture Event
2016 Tunbridge -Wells art fair
2016 Affordable art fairs Battersea + Hampstead
2015 Marks Hall Sculpture Show Coggeshall Essex
2015 Rude, Crush Gallery, Brighton, Joint show
2015 Affordable art Fair Brussels, Battersea UK, Hampstead, UK
2015 Chelsea art Fair London
2015 Edinburgh Art Fair
2015 See-art fair Tunbridge wells
2014 Chelsea art Fair London
2014 Cambridge Art Show
2014 Cupola Gallery Sheffield – Solo show
2014 Affordable art fairs Hampstead +Battersea
2013 Cambridge Art Fair
2013 Bowie Gallery Devon – Solo show
2013 Chelsea Art Fair London
2013 The Nail Factory, Scotland – Solo show
2013 Affordable art fairs Battersea + Hampstead.
2012 Buyart Manchester Art Fair
2012 Affordable art fair Battersea, Hampstead
2011 Affordable art fairs Battersea & Hampstead
2010 RGI Art show Glasgow
2010 Sir John Soane’s Museum London
2010 Affordable Art Fair Brussels, Bristol, Battersea
2009 Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine arts
2009 Affordable Art Fair Battersea + Bristol
2009 Visual Art Scotland Edinburgh
Selected EXHIBITIONS BEFORE 2010
2010 Affordable art fair Battersea and Brussels
2010 RGI Art show Glasgow
2010 Sir John Soane’s Museum London
2010 Affordable Art Fair Brussells, Bristol, London
2010 Spring Fling open studios
2009 Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine arts
2009 Affordable Art Fair London & Bristol
2009 Visual Art Scotland Edinburgh
