GOUTIN Claude

Claude Goutin was born on 18 June 1930 in Nancy. He attended the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Nancy and then the École supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. There he trained as a sculptor and was taught by the sculptor Alfred Janniot.

In 1953, he was awarded the second Grand Prix de Rome. Then, in 1956, he won the first Grand Prix de Rome for sculpture. This award enabled him to become a resident for three years at the Villa Medici. During his stay in Italy, he immersed himself in ancient, renaissance and modern works. His trip to Greece in 1959 also marked the ancient influence that can be found in his works.

On his return, he settled in Metz and, in 1960, became a professor at the École des Beaux-Arts de Metz. He remained in this position for almost 36 years, until 1996. At the same time, he was a lecturer at the University of Metz from 1995 to 1996.

His favourite materials are terracotta, bricks, bronze, as well as flat, Roman or fluted tiles. The human body and movement are central to his artistic concerns.

The artist has been celebrated on numerous occasions by European institutions, such as in Berlin, Rome and Brussels. In France, his works were presented in a group exhibition at the Rodin Museum in 1964 and 1966, at the Museum of Modern Art in 1965 and at the Grand Palais in 1969 and 1970. In 1981, he was elected a corresponding member of the National Academy of Metz.

Throughout his career, Claude Goutin received several commissions from cities for public spaces such as gardens, urban spaces or schools. He is responsible for several statues in Metz, such as the equestrian statue of La Fayette and the statue of General de Gaulle in Amnéville-les-Thermes.

In 2007, he was awarded the Grand Prix de Lorraine. He died in 2018 in Moselle.