Illustrator Pierre Le-Tan is a man of few words. Like every single line in his meticulous drawings, he is very careful with the words he uses, but his every answer is delivered with honesty and emotion.
Flying Shoppers for Central Embassy.
Born in 1950 and raised in Paris, his father was the famous Vietnamese artist Le-Pho. Le-Tan followed his father's footsteps into the world of art with his talented drawing skills. He was also influenced by Thomas Rowlandson, an English caricaturist whose work Le-Tan was introduced to by his mother.
His career breakthrough manifested itself in 1968 when he became a contributor to The New Yorker at the age of 18. Since then he has collaborated with many leading magazines, newspapers, designers and advertising agencies around the world.
Earlier this month, Le-Tan flew from Paris to Bangkok for the launch of the talk-of-the-town, high-end shopping complex Central Embassy, where the artist has created Flying Shoppers, a special collaborative illustration on a 100-metre-long billboard.
Life spoke to the talented Le-Tan about his project in Thailand and his life as an illustrator.
Covers of Pierre Le- Tan’s children books.
Tell us about your collaboration with Central Embassy.
It all started when I met Baro
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Session II, Online Auction: 8–17 March 2021 • 3:00 PM CET • Paris
T he collection of Pierre Le-Tan, which Sotheby's has the honour of presenting in Paris, echoes the collector’s unforgettable personality, at once discreet and out of the ordinary. The man who made a name for himself with his covers for The New Yorker came from a background that was at once artistic, literary, international and Parisian.
A number of works from this ever-evolving collection were sold in October 1995 at Sotheby's London. Pierre Le-Tan continued to collect after that sale, more compulsively than ever, and with the same sharp and sensitive eye. This auction provides the opportunity for these diverse objects, reflections of Le-Tan’s unique universe and accompanied by some of his own drawings, to find a place with new owners who will appreciate them as much as this insatiable collector.