Christian Lattier

Christian Lattier (1925-1978) is a sculptor born in Ivory Coast. He lives in Paris and France from 1935 until 1962; In order to study he travels to France very young, in 1935, at the age of 10 he attends the Marist Brotherhood of Saint-Chamond, a Catholic school founded by Marcellin Champagnat. In 1945 he began his studies at Saint Etienne Beaux-Arts where he wins all the First Prizes and finishes his studies in only two years. In 1947 he is accepted to the Paris Beaux-Arts where he studied sculpture, architecture, wood carving. He works as well with architects and finally creates his own artistic path.

In 1962 he goes back to Ivory Coast where he becomes Professor of sculpture in the Beaux-Arts of Abidjan. His style is unique, transcending the Western and the African Art of sculpture. He shows to his students how to use what is considered, poor, but can become sublime under the hands of a real sculptor, simple cords, sisal.  

In 1953 he obtains the prestigious Prize Chenavard for Art and Architecture for his 138 inches long "Panther". As a tribute to his art the Hall of the Palace of Culture of Abidjan is baptized Galerie Christian Lattier.  In 1966, for the first Festival of African Arts of Dakar he obtains the first Prize and the Minister of Culture in France, the writer André Malraux proclaims him "First for innovation and all categories".