This fall, art enthusiasts will witness an unprecedented exhibition that brings together the works of Belgian Surrealist René Magritte and French sculptural duo Les Lalannes for the first time. Di Donna Galleries will present "Magritte and Les Lalanne: In the Mind's Garden," opening October 8, 2025, in collaboration with London-based Ben Brown Fine Arts.
The exhibition will showcase more than 50 paintings, works on paper, and sculptures, featuring rare loans of Magritte's paintings displayed alongside works from the estate of François-Xavier Lalanne and Claude Lalanne. This unique pairing has never been attempted before, making it a significant moment in the art world.
"A show like this has never been done," gallerist Emmanuel Di Donna told ARTnews. "With a project like this, where it's something new, it's something that's relevant, and I think that's something that's going to be very poetic. I think together, those works will sing together."
The connection between these artists runs deeper than their shared aesthetic vision. All three artists were represented by the legendary gallerist Alexander Iolas during the 1960s, and they share a common sensibility through their surreal and poetic transformation of the natural world. This historical connection provides a strong foundation for bringing their works together in dialogue.
According to Di Donna, discussions for the exhibition began late last year, but the project came together relatively quickly due to several factors: access to works from the Lalanne family, Di Donna's extensive involvement in the market for iconic Surrealist works by Magritte, and the willingness of important private collectors to loan pieces for the show.
"I know where most Magrittes are," Di Donna explained. "It's a phone call or a letter, explaining what we're doing, you know, what the reasoning behind the show is, and showing a few examples of the works that we already have and how well they work together. People always need to see beautiful shows. If they can be part of contributing to a great show, I think people want to do it."
Ben Brown, who has represented Les Lalannes for several years and knew the French sculptural couple personally, has observed how their market continues to expand and attract new buyers. His long-standing relationship with the artists' work brings additional depth to the collaboration.
Di Donna continues to work on securing loans for additional pieces in the coming weeks, including works that have been hidden from public view for years. "There's a lot of works that haven't been seen in museums or anywhere in years," the gallerist said. "So I'm excited to show some works by Magritte that are really special and in conversation with those wonderful Lalannes."
Among the confirmed highlights of the exhibition is Magritte's oil painting "L'ami intime" (The Intimate Friend) from 1958, which achieved a remarkable sale price of $33.66 million at Christie's London last March. This masterpiece will be displayed alongside Claude Lalanne's sculpture "Pain Pieds" from 1971, creating a compelling dialogue between the two artistic visions.
The exhibition will also feature François-Xavier Lalanne's "Hippopotame I" from 1968/1998, a striking bright blue bathtub measuring 9 feet in length. This extraordinary piece is crafted from molded polyester resin and brass, shaped into a life-sized hippopotamus that serves as both functional furniture and sculptural art.
Another standout piece is François-Xavier Lalanne's "Sauterelle Bar" from 1970, constructed from porcelain, polished brass, and steel in the form of a large grasshopper. This remarkable work exists in only two editions, making it exceptionally rare. "The scale of it just makes it like, it looks like a UFO," Di Donna said in reference to the Sauterelle Bar. "It's such an amazing creative object."
The timing of this exhibition is particularly significant given the continued strong performance of all three artists in the auction market, even during what many consider a sluggish period for art sales. Di Donna's personal connection to Magritte's work runs deep – the first exhibition he mounted when opening his gallery in 2011 was dedicated to Magritte, with the catalog cover featuring "L'empire des lumières" (Empire of Light) from 1954.
That same painting later set a new auction record for Magritte when it sold for $121 million at Christie's 20th century evening sale in November 2024, demonstrating the enduring appeal and market strength of the artist's work.
The market momentum continued in May 2025, when another version of "L'empire des lumières" from 1959 retained its strong value by selling for $34.9 million with fees at Christie's single-owner sale for "Leonard & Louise Riggio: Collected Works." This consistency in pricing shows the stability of Magritte's market position.
Les Lalannes have also shown remarkable market strength. Last month, François-Xavier Lalanne's life-sized bronze desk "Grand Rhinocéros II" from 2003 achieved $16.422 million with buyer's premium at Sotheby's important design day sale in New York. This result far exceeded its high estimate of $5 million and became the top lot of the sale, marking the artist's second-highest result at auction.
Di Donna believes the market for Les Lalannes still has significant room for growth, attributing this potential to the couple's unique style and an expanding base of collectors. "There's nobody that can compete in terms of quality and imagery with them," he said. "When you see those giant hippos or giant gorillas or the small choupette, I mean, all those pieces are in themselves very poetic, very beautiful and very charming to live with. And they're enchanting."
The exhibition will be accompanied by a fully illustrated catalog featuring scholarly texts from leading experts in Surrealism, with particular focus on the works and influence of both Magritte and Les Lalannes. This academic component will provide visitors and readers with deeper insight into the artistic connections and historical context that make this pairing so meaningful.
The collaboration between Di Donna Galleries and Ben Brown Fine Arts represents a significant moment in contemporary art exhibition practices, bringing together expertise from both New York and London art markets. While only Ben Brown Fine Arts formally represents Les Lalannes, both galleries bring complementary strengths to the project that promise to make this exhibition a landmark event in the fall art season.
"Magritte and Les Lalanne: In the Mind's Garden" opens to the public on October 8, 2025, at Di Donna Galleries in New York, offering art lovers and collectors a unique opportunity to experience these three visionary artists in unprecedented dialogue.
