René Barba
- Birthdate
- 1965
- Nationality
- Cuban
- Occupation
- Designer
René Barba, born in 1965 in Havana, Cuba, and raised in the United States, is a designer and sculptor whose artistic career is rich and diverse. After studying at the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs in Paris from 1991 to 1994, he built a remarkable career in design, collaborating with prestigious brands such as Ligne Roset, Cinna, Koziol, BBB and Serax. His creations, which he describes as "functional sculptures", are renowned for their innovative aesthetics and have been exhibited in leading international venues, including Milan, Paris, Tokyo and New York.
René Barba's passion for sculpture dates back to his youth. At just 18, he produced a series of Baroque-style metal furniture pieces, which he had made by craftsmen in Miami, an early testament to his talent and determination. After some hesitation about continuing his studies in New York, he decided to follow a friend's advice and move to Paris. Despite the language barrier, he was immediately seduced by the city and continued his studies at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.
René Barba sees design as a form of functional sculpture, where beauty and functionality meet. This approach is strongly influenced by his travels and international inspirations, enabling him to work with French, Italian, Belgian and Canadian brands and create a variety of objects, often in glass, which he appreciates for its transparency.
Despite his career in object design, it was the first confinement in 2020 that marked a turning point in his career. René resumed a sculpture he'd begun in 1992 and set up a website to devote himself fully to artistic creation. His recent sculptures, in plaster and sometimes painted, reveal an instinctive, vegetal universe, with soft, almost tribal forms that explore a return to natural sources.
In 2023, René Barba organizes the first edition of the Promenade des artistes in Lagny-sur-Marne, an event he has imagined and proposed to the town. The project reflects his commitment to creative freedom and his desire to share his artistic vision with the public. The event will take place in mid-September, offering visitors a unique chance to discover his work and that of other artists in an unprecedented setting.
