Closed for renovations the LaM Lille Métropole Museum of Modern Contemporary and Art Brut will reopen in February 2026. This isn’t just any museum. It’s a treasure trove a unique space housing over 6500 works. Imagine the culmination of decades of passion and dedication.
The LaM’s story begins with Roger Dutilleul a Parisian rentier who started collecting art in 1905. He befriended influential art dealers like Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler. He amassed an impressive collection of works by then-unknown artists like Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso. His nephew Jean Masurel inherited this passion and expanded the collection. Jean Masurel dreamed of sharing his family’s art with the public. This wasn’t easy. It took years of negotiations with the government and the Lille urban community.
Finally in 1979 the Masurel collection was donated. Construction of the museum began. It wasn’t without its challenges. Conflicts arose between the donor the curator and the architect Roland Simounet. Despite these hurdles the museum was inaugurated in 1983. It showcased the Dutilleul and Masurel collections. The museum was designed to blend seamlessly with its surroundings. It’s situated in a leafy park. The original building is a testament to simple modular volumes. It’s built of brick-clad concrete. It features asymmetrical wings connected by a glass gallery.
The LaM’s significance extends beyond its impressive collection. It’s the only museum in Europe to display modern contemporary and art brut simultaneously. In 1995 the museum received a substantial donation of art brut. This included works by Carlo Zinelli Paul End and Madge Gill. It’s now home to the largest public collection of art brut in France. The LaM’s continued growth necessitated an expansion. In 2006 renovations began. Architect Manuelle Gautrand’s extension added 2700 square meters. This new space better showcases the art brut collection. The expanded LaM reopened in 2010. It boasts a total area of 11000 square meters with 4000 square meters dedicated to exhibition space.
The LaM Lille Métropole Museum offers more than just art. Its two-hectare sculpture park houses works by Picasso Calder and Deacon. It also includes a library with 40000 volumes educational workshops an auditorium a restaurant and a bookshop. It’s a place for learning discovery and inspiration. It’s a testament to the power of art. It’s a celebration of creativity in all its forms. It’s the LaM. The LaM Lille Métropole Museum of Modern Contemporary and Art Brut is a must-see. It awaits your visit when it reopens its doors.