Sacha Sosno – École de Nice / Obliteration
Full name: Alexandre Joseph Sosnowski, known as Sacha Sosno
Birth: Marseille, France
Training: Self-taught, close to the École de Nice
Movement: Nouvelle Figuration, École de Nice, concept of “Obliteration”
Artistic Journey
Sacha Sosno grew up in Nice and, from the 1960s, was part of the École de Nice alongside artists such as Ben, Arman, and Yves Klein. A self-taught artist, he developed an original conceptual approach around “obliteration,” meaning the art of hiding or masking part of an image or sculpture to invite the viewer to mentally recreate what is missing. His art lies between figuration and abstraction, playing with void, absence, and memory.
Sosno also became renowned for his monumental sculptures that integrate into the urban landscape, the most famous being La Tête Carrée in Nice, which has become an emblem of the city. His works have been exhibited across Europe, the United States, and Asia, affirming his role as a pioneer of contemporary Mediterranean art.
Major Works
La Tête Carrée (2002) – Monumental 30-meter-high sculpture, housing the library of Nice.
L’Oblitération – Series of paintings and sculptures exploring void and absence.
La Déesse de l’Anonymat – Obliterated sculpture, symbol of fragmented memory.
Le Passe-Muraille – Monumental bronze sculpture exploring the relationship between full and empty.
Style and Influences
Concept of obliteration: hiding in order to reveal differently.
Influences: École de Nice, Nouveau Réalisme, Minimalism.
Works combining monumentality, purity, and reflection on memory.
Quote
“To hide in order to see better.”
