Patrick Laroche started his sculptor career in 1985 during his encounter with Roger De Jonckheere, a renowned sculptor and First Prize of Rome.
From 1985 to 1997, Laroche honed his skills in marble carving, molding, enlargements, and the pointing machine technique for over a decade. In 1997, he was recognized with the "Meilleur Ouvrier de France" award for his hand-carved marble statue.
Laroche's artwork is highly regarded and has been showcased in numerous galleries and museums across the globe, including Europe, the United States, Canada, Africa, and Asia. His contemporary pieces have been exhibited at the Universal Exhibition, the FIAC fair, Art New York, Art Miami, and L.A. Art Show. Additionally, some of his works have been selected for permanent collections in Spain, Poland, and Canada.
A classical sculptor career
During his career as a classical sculptor, Patrick Laroche worked for the Réunion des Musées Nationaux (RMN), including at the Louvre Museum, where he created the original model of the Victory of Samothrace and enlarged the bas-reliefs of the Fountain of the Innocents by Jean Goujon. Commissioned by the RMN, Laroche also created a sculpture of Jean-Jacques Rousseau for the city of Montmorency and a bust of the actor Philippe Léotard for the Roman Theatre of Fréjus in France.
Laroche's experience with casts and reductions also led him to participate in several archaeological projects, such as one at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul in 1991, during which he worked on the 8-meter-high statues of Apollo, Artemis, and Leto in Claros.
In 1992, the French fashion house Chanel commissioned Laroche to design and create stone models, following a visit by designer Karl Lagerfeld to his studio.
Most recently, in 2014, Laroche created the trophy for the international sailing competition "Route du Rhum".
A contemporary vision
Patrick Laroche's contemporary artwork is characterized by colorful and oversized installations. In 2010, he launched a collection called "Vegetables" that combines sensuality, keen observation, and surrealism.
Two years later, in 2012, the "Vegetables" collection was showcased at several venues in Paris, including the Pont Alexandre III, Les Invalides, and Place Charles-de-Gaulle, through a major installation featuring six-meter-high pieces. The works were later displayed on the sidelines of the International Contemporary Art Fair in Paris Saint Germain.
In 2015, the French government selected Patrick Laroche to represent France at the World Expo in Milan. Three major installations from the "Vegetables" collection were exhibited at the French Pavilion.
Art furniture
In 2020, Patrick Laroche expanded his creative range by launching an art furniture line inspired by organic shapes and natural textures, inhabiting the room like a vivarium. Known for his sculptural work, the artist uses a combination of luxurious materials, such as marble, bronze, alabaster, wood, leather, and gold leaf to design unique pieces. This collection of art furniture demonstrates the artist's ability to apply his sculptural aesthetic to furniture, creating original and unconventional interior pieces. Each piece is entirely handcrafted in his workshop in France.