Lot #6: "Etude" Artist Signed Linda Le Kinff 60/200 Christies Edition Lithograph Framed 31"

Excellent bio on back Imagine an artist who, from the outset, takes you on a journey between France and Brazil, then unceremoniously whisks you away to Italy, Japan, India... That's a bit like Linda Le Kinff's universe: a whirlwind of colors, cultures and techniques, where women display generous curves, their heads full of dreams and cats prowl everywhere as silent witnesses. Born to a French mother and a Brazilian father, Linda grew up in a dual culture that deeply influences her painting: the sophisticated grace of the French artistic tradition rubs shoulders with the vibrant palette of Latin American countries. However, nothing predestined her to pursue a career in art, since she initially followed a rather traditional academic path. It was the friction of life—meetings with painters, sculptors, and other free spirits—that led her to turn to canvas and pigments in the 1960s. The decisive shock of her career? Italy. At 18, Linda discovered Florence and was literally amazed. Renaissance art overwhelmed her, so much so that she returned there regularly for fifteen years, mopping up all sorts of ancient techniques (egg tempera, the use of gold leaf, copper engraving, etc.) and mastering more recent ones (airbrushing, acrylics, screen printing). In Franco Cantini's studio, she rubbed shoulders with masters like Zancanaro and Chipola, whose influence would have a lasting impact on her style. Another key moment in her career occurred by chance—or, dare we say, by a stroke of fate—in 1974: while working on a lithograph in Arcueil, she met Sir Myles Cook, director of Christie's Contemporary Art in London. This marked the beginning of a collaboration lasting more than twelve years, thanks to which Linda exhibited throughout Europe, Japan, and even Australia. Her works traveled from one gallery to another (Burlington Art Galleries in Hong Kong, Krashin Gallery in the United States, etc.) and gradually conquered the international scene. The "Le Kinff touch" is recognizable at first glance: voluptuous feminine silhouettes, cats fluttering through the decor, bright and shimmering colors applied to wood or canvas. The varnishes and mixtures she invents allow her to achieve a unique chromatic density, combining classic finesse and vibrant modernism. She also enjoys oil pastels, ink, watercolors, and, recently, collage. This further multiplies the possibilities and reminds us that, for her, an artist only exists if they never rest on their laurels. Her talent was soon noticed: in 1998, she became the official artist of the Football World Cup in France, which earned her the unprecedented honor of having one of her works minted as a commemorative coin. Then, in 2010, she was the first French artist selected to illustrate the prestigious Kentucky Derby: in a twist of fate, the horse she painted wore the number 4 and actually won the race under that same number… Coincidence? Some will see this as a nice snub to the idea that art and sport are two separate worlds. https://lekinffart.com/en/pages/biographie Measurements: 31.5" x 25.5" wide Pickup category timeslot {A}