Ulysse Lacoste is our Artisan of the Month!

Metal sculptor and 2022 laureate of the Fondation, Ulysse Lacoste creates monumental works. His secret? A unique approach blending science and mathematics. This twenty-eighth episode invites you to discover his art’s duality, where craft meets engineering.

The Trade

Metal, an ancient and timeless material, continues to transcend eras and fields. Currently, it stands at the core of artisanal crafts, perpetually reinventing itself.

For a long time divided between science and art, Ulysse Lacoste discovered his true calling and perfect balance in metal sculpture. His works, full of poetry, explore geometric forms and materials with a certain sensitivity. His artistic process starts with small-scale designs, allowing him to refine his ideas and rethink form, volume, and balance, before translating them into monumental creations.

The gesture

The craftsman’s process begins with the gesture, from what is crafted by hand. He draws his inspiration from childhood. Ideas come alive when he rediscovers a child’s capacity for amazement, the freedom to play, and boundless curiosity that gives life to his ideas. This creativity is structured by mathematical precision. Using his compass, he draws lines of unparalleled precision, turning his craft into a kind of calculation. This unique fusion allows him to create pieces both technical and poetic, which he likes to call “elegant solutions”.

Transmission

Collaboration and transmission are fundamental in Ulysse’s workshop. Interns are deeply involved in monumental works, engaging in a synergistic “four hands, two brains” process where everyone’s ideas cultivate the common work. The aim is to awaken a creative spark in young talents.

Due to the physical demands of manipulating and crafting his monumental artworks, the Fondation Rémy Cointreau assisted Ulysse in acquiring a forklift. This tangible support is crucial for enhancing his working environment.