Francesca Lalanne’s use of construction materials as working surfaces depict a textural approach to creating bold geometric compositions with mysterious characters. This method, which Lalanne has been exercising for over a decade, features monolithic and mechanical figures that blur the line between structure and human form. Using drywall or plaster, the balance between her roughened surfaces and architectural line work invoke a sense of tension, restraint, and solidity at once.
Lalanne’s formal vocabulary captures a confession occurring within her subjects, shifting between revealed and hidden forms, and lines that hint at machinery. In her recent series of works on gypsum, Lalanne examines the lamenting effects of trauma: pain, weeping, and grief. The figures portrayed reflect suspended moments of cathartic releases and stares, promoting the vulnerability of emotional expression.
Lalanne’s work also draws inspiration from social work and psychology. Her work reflects mental states that are confronted daily, balanced or troubled, exploring the fluid nature of emotion and spirit through materials that invite various points of entry and understanding.
Lalanne received her MFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology, where she received a Merit Art Scholarship. Her work has been exhibited at Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, Art Miami, and Quotidian Gallery in Los Angeles. She was awarded residencies in the island of Guadeloupe, San Paulo Brazil, and Khoj International Workshop in India. She currently lives and works in Los Angeles.
