Richard Laté Lawson Body is a Togolese visual artist, poet and calligrapher, based in Lomé, whose work bridges abstraction, calligraphic gesture and social engagement. Exploring various mediums such as drawing, painting, or digital art, he is best known for his abstract compositions, where he carefully layers and blends colours into mesmerising, almost organic surfaces. His practice unfolds through subtle superpositions and controlled gestures, creating works that are both immersive and contemplative.

Photo: Le nouveau reporter

Richard Laté Lawson Body (1986) began his artistic journey as a calligrapher. From a young age, he received formal training in calligraphy, which later led to his appointment as a  member of the calligraphy service for the Togolese presidency. After completing studies in marketing and strategy at the University of Lomé, Laté chose to dedicate himself fully to his first passion: visual art. As an autodidact, he experiments with various unique techniques, combining his calligraphy training and precision with the expressive possibilities of painting and drawing.

In his characteristic abstract works, the artist constructs his compositions through successive paint layers, drawing the viewer in with their depth and intensity. Upon closer observation, subtle patterns and perhaps imagined figurative elements may emerge, offering a truly interactive and almost meditative element to the works. His paintings often convey a sense of movement, as colours blend and shift, sometimes  appearing almost suspended mid-drip. Laté frequently allows darker underlayers to surface through stratified textures, creating a powerful contrast between vibrant colours and the dark depths beneath, a tension that can be read as symbolic of the dualities of life. 

Nature and humanity's exploitative relationship with it form a continuous thread throughout his practice. He has, for instance, dedicated a series to water pollution and underwater ecosystems, using abstraction to evoke the flow of water and reflect on environmental degradation. Seeking to reproduce natural patterns, his earlier works were inspired by mould and fungus, exploring their resilience and capacity to grow in any environment. He frequently works with found materials as a basis for his compositions, enabling him to explore varied shapes and supports, from large traditional canvases to smaller circular and rectangular formats. In doing so, he subtly challenges conventional pictorial boundaries. Through this artistic approach, Laté evokes both the beauty and fragility of nature, while reminding us of the urgency of environmental awareness and the need to reconsider our habits in a world increasingly threatened by pollution.

Richard Laté has exhibited internationally, for instance in Luxembourg and Brussels, and his works are held in private collections around the world.