Alain Kirili, French sculptor known for public works, dies at 75

French sculptor Alain Kirili, who lived and worked in New York, died on May 19, 2021, at age 75. He was a passionate advocate for sculpture in public spaces, notably with his work at the Tuileries in Paris. A jazz enthusiast, he created installations such as "Hommage à Charlie Parker" (2007) near the BnF in Paris. Kirili's work often featured vertical forms, forged iron, and a dialogue with African and Indian sculpture traditions. He worked in Senegal and Mali in 2004. His outdoor sculptures can be found in Dijon, Grenoble, and Montmajour. He was married to photographer Ariane Lopez-Huici. Art historian Thierry Dufrêne pays tribute, recalling Kirili's deep knowledge of sculpture from Gothic to Rodin, his admiration for Barnett Newman and David Smith, and his improvisational approach akin to jazz.