Richard Orlinski

RICHARD ORLINSKI (Paris, 1966).
"Wild Kong". 2010-2015.
Lacquered resin.
Plate with artist's signature, title and numbering.
Exemplary II/IV.
Model conceived in 2010 as part of the Born Wild collection.
Monumental specimen executed and installed in 2015 on the occasion of the inauguration of the headquarters of the international television channel Euronews (Confluence, Lyon).
Provenance: Euronews Collection (the work was prominently displayed in their offices).
Measurements: 300 × 240 × 140 cm.

Wild Kong is one of Richard Orlinski's most iconic pieces and one of the most recognizable images of his Born Wild universe. Inspired by the figure of King Kong, the gorilla appears in frontal attitude, roaring and beating his chest, turned into a monumental icon of strength, instinct and primal energy. Its spectacular scale and intense bright red finish make this version a work of the highest visual impact, conceived to dominate the space.

The faceted surface, characteristic of the artist, transforms the animal's anatomy into an almost crystalline geometric structure. Orlinski thus combines pop references, popular culture and contemporary sculptural language, turning the fierceness of the gorilla into a seductive, luxurious and fully urban image. Beyond its wild appearance, the work poses a reflection on primal impulses and the boundary between humanity and animality, the conceptual core of the Born Wild series.

Sculptor Richard Orlinski began his artistic career in 2004 with a red crocodile in resin, a work that anticipated the faceted bestiary that would make him famous. He works with contemporary materials such as resin, aluminum, bronze or marble, and has constructed a direct, accessible and recognizable language based on symbolic animals, intense colors and polished surfaces. His work has been presented at fairs and venues such as FIAC, Art Basel, Art Élysées and the Palace of Versailles, in addition to numerous public installations and outdoor exhibitions.

Positioned among the French contemporary artists with the greatest projection and success in the international market, Orlinski has managed to bring art to urban spaces and highly visible enclaves, with galleries dedicated to his work in cities such as Paris, London, Courchevel 1850, Miami and Saint-Tropez. He was named an Officer of the Order of the Arts and Letters of France in 2021, and since 2015 his official galleries have presented him as the best-selling French contemporary artist in the world.

The piece represents a singular opportunity for collectors and institutions interested in a work of great scenographic presence, fully representative of contemporary pop art of the 21st century. From the Euronews collection, where he presided over the network's headquarters in Confluence, Lyon, this monumental Wild Kong brings together plastic value, media power and an imposing sculptural presence, capable of transforming any contemporary architectural space.