Richard Orlinski can be termed a relative newcomer in the art world. He burst on the scene in 2004 with a bright red resin sculpture of a crocodile. Today, he has the distinction of having the highest global sales of any French contemporary artist (since 2015).
Taking inspiration from pop culture and everyday objects, his sculptures — especially the animal-themed ‘Born Wild’ series — stand for freedom, power and passion. While his pieces can be spotted in the homes of the rich and famous, from actor Sharon Stone, musicians Justin Bieber and David Guetta and footballers Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema, Orlinski enjoys being a people’s artist, exhibiting his work in unusual places. One can spot his ‘Wild Kong’ gorilla sculpture on the Croisette in Cannes, his crocodiles in the Miami Design District, and his five-metre-tall bear on the ski slopes of Courchevel.
