Minette Nathalie Lété - BE@RBRICK
Prolific multimedia artist Nathalie Lété has been actively making art since 1987. After launching her solo career in 2000, she's developed a whimsical, folk art-inspired style known for its feelings of nostalgia. Lété has equally emphasized her roles as an artist and businesswoman through her numerous collaborations. In her collaboration with Medicom Toy, Lété has lent her designs to three different BE@BRICK figures as of 2021. The "BE@RBRICK Nathalie Lété Minette 100％ & 400％ Set" figure set showcases her use of form, color, and line to create a vintage-inspired, child-like design.
Nathalie Lété and BE@RBRICK Collaboration Background
Nathalie Lété began working with Medicom Toy in 2020. Her work can be found not only in the BE@RBRICK line but in other licensed toy lines as well.
Collaboration Planning and Launch
Lété's first work in the BE@RBRICK line was in a collaboration for the line's Series 40 figure launch. She designed "Ours a la Cravate" as that collection's Animal figure. In November 2020, she created a teapot set of a red and blue Lucky Cat design. Later that month, Lété's work was featured in the opening event for 2G Osaka. Her featured work included a BE@RBRICK design titled "Chaperon Rouge" and a stuffed creature for the SMAK line. In 2021, the Minette design went on sale through Medicom Toy's exclusive retailers and expanded to general sales in March.
BE@RBRICK Nathalie Lété Minette 100％ & 400％ Set
This fantastical, whimsical BE@RBRICK figure takes its design from multimedia artist Nathalie Lété. The design depicts an anthropomorphic cat seen at different times in Lété's career. The cat, called Minette in this figure, wears a bright pink dress over her brown tabby striped fur. White and red polka dots cover the dress irregularly, representative of Lété's art brut style. Over her left arm, Minette wears a vintage-inspired blue bag with a chain strap. The bag features a flat paint design with only one contrasting shade on the bag's body to represent shadows from the opening. Her pink nose and cream-colored snout are centered on the figure's bear nose. Four white whiskers on either side stand out against her medium brown facial fur. The bright blue of her eyes matches her bag, simplifying the color palette and design. Her feline ears are drawn on the inside of the figure's rounded bear ears, surrounded by a brown backdrop. A cream and brown striped tail pokes out from beneath her hem, curling by the artist's signature on her leg.
- Product Name: BE@RBRICK Nathalie Lété Minette 100％ & 400％ Set
- Manufacturer: Medicom Toy
- Specifications: Set of 2 painted, articulated, non-scale figures with water transfer printing
- Height (approx.):
100%: 70mm | 2.8"
400%: 280mm | 11"
Nathalie Lété Background
Nathalie Lété is an artist, sculptor, and talented designer based in Paris. She primarily operates like an artist rather than a business and works equally on gallery exhibitions and brand collaborations.
Minette is a character by Nathalie Lété seen in different materials in her work, particularly in jewelry. Like many of the creatures in her work, Minette combines a vintage aesthetic with vivid colors and draws inspiration from folk art. In her work with toys, Lété doesn't try to create work for children specifically but approaches her designs from a place of imagination.
Nathalie Lété Background: History
Nathalie Lété was born in 1964 in France. Prior to working as a solo artist, Lété was part of a contemporary art duo Mathias et Nathalie. After leaving the group in 1997, Lété started her solo career working on a commission for Usagi pour toi in Japan. By 2006, Lété had established herself in solo installations and working with designers like Issey Miyake. Over the next ten years, Lété opened gallery shows and window displays in high-profile art communities such as Paris, New York, and Seoul. In 2015, she had a career retrospective showing in the Musée de la Piscine in Roubaix, France. Today, Lété continues to work on collaborations, private commissions, and her own material production.
Nathalie Lété Background: Reception
Lété works with many mediums including drawing, painting, collage, textiles, and ceramics. Her influences come from travel, vintage toys, and the popular and folk art from her Chinese and German heritage. Her portfolio involves a wide range of material production. In addition to gallery art, she makes work including children's books, t-shirts, dish sets, and stuffed toys. Lété's wide range of products has led to her reputation as one of the most prolific artists of her generation. Her style evokes a fairytale-like whimsy, completely with wild colors, naivety, and occasional strangeness.
Other Notable Nathalie Lété Collaborations
Although she prefers to act as an artist rather than a business, Nathalie Lété often works as a design collaborator. Her partnerships involve both high-profile companies and small businesses equally.
Nathalie Lété and Fashion
Nathalie Lété often lends her designs to fashion retailers and occasionally high-profile couture designers. After she collaborated with Issey Miyake in 2006, Lété began working with Japanese children's clothing maker Muchacha. She started a similar collaboration with Dutch clothing maker Room Seven a few years later. In September 2010, Lété began her first of three collaborations with French retailer Monoprix. Their partnership featured Lété's designs in clothing and home goods. In 2015, Lété's designs were featured in Uniqlo's UT t-shirt line. Lété worked with her most famous collaborator, Gucci, as part of their 2018 Fall/Winter line. Lété's paintings were featured in the line's fashion shoots. Fashion designer Alessandro Michele incorporated her motifs into the clothing itself. In 2019, Lété immediately returned to retail fashion as part of H&M's children's line that spring.
Links
BE@RBRICK Nathalie Lété Minette 100％ & 400％ Set
BE@RBRICK Series
BE@BRICK Label