One dollar black - My name is...

Born into a family of artists in 1981 in Paris, Karl Lagasse is a French artist and sculptor.

At a very young age, he began to practice plastic arts, in particular collage at the age of 7 with his mother. At the same age, he met the French sculptor César Baldaccini (1921-1998). The latter pushed him to pursue an artistic path. A few years later, he explored another means of expression by doing a lot of graffiti in the Paris metro. And under the guidance of the artist Yvaral (1934-2002), son of the Hungarian artist Victor Vasarely (1906-1997), Karl Lagasse integrated his tags into his collages. 

Karl Lagasse's artistic career began in 1996, at the age of 15, when he sold his first work in Antwerp. In 2003, Karl prepares his first exhibition in Paris in which he shows works mixing the techniques of painting and collage. His first solo exhibition took place in 2006. During this exhibition, he presents his famous "Buildings" in the Isy Brachot gallery in Brussels. 

The year 2009 was a year of consecration for the artist. Indeed, he is gaining notoriety thanks to his "One Dollar" sculptures and is ranked among the ten best sculptors in the world under 30 years old by Artprice. 

In 2012, the artist is cited as one of the fifty best contemporary artists drawing their inspiration from American icons. The same year, Karl Lagasse creates the sculpture "Building". This bronze sculpture was created for the 65th Cannes Film Festival and represents the history of the festival. 

In 2014, the artist is contacted by Maserati with the aim of collaborating to celebrate the centenary of the Italian brand and the worldwide launch of the new Ghibli12. A year later, Karl Lagasse and Maserati once again collaborate together to create a monumental installation entitled "A Piece of Heaven on Earth". This work consists of a Maserati covered in white plastic film and a statue of Jesus Christ. The feet of the latter are covered with several "One Dollar" sculptures. These represent the repayment of humanity's greatest debt. 

More recently in 2016, on the occasion of the Art Paris Art Fair, the President of the Republic François Hollande personally congratulated the artist on the success of his work "One Dollar", a bronze sculpture measuring two metres high exhibited at the Grand Palais. 

In 2017, Karl Lagasse will create the trophy rewarding the winners of the 43rd edition of the Deauville American Film Festival. Best known for his "One dollar", his "Buildings" are inspired by New York skyscrapers. Moreover, they are built as points of reflection on his person and the world around him. Karl Lagasse's works are inspired both by the American world and his personal need to "build himself, to rise". His works are the result of his admiration for the United States. Moreover, his "One Dollar" works illustrate for the artist what it is possible to do for only one dollar. Lagasse produces these sculptures in red, blue, purple or even yellow - but they retain the unique metallic finish of aluminium. "Making art with $1" is therefore quite an art.