LaM

Inaugurated in 1983 to house the exceptional donation of Geneviève and Jean Masurel—descendants of a prominent family of industrialists from northern France—the LaM – Lille Métropole Museum of Modern, Contemporary and Outsider Art has established itself as a leading institution on the European museum scene. Thanks to this generous gesture, which included works inherited from the collection of Roger Dutilleul, the museum holds and displays a major ensemble of modern art, featuring works by Modigliani, Picasso, Léger, and Miró.

Open to contemporary art since its founding, the LaM was further enriched in 1999 by an extraordinary donation of more than 3,500 works of outsider art, brought together by the association L’Aracine, founded by Madeleine Lommel, Claire Teller, and Michel Nedjar. It thus became the first museum in France to bring together, under one roof, three complementary collections: modern art, contemporary art, and outsider art.

With a collection of more than 8,500 works, remarkable architecture, and a sculpture garden open to all, the LaM offers a unique experience in Europe—an expansive journey through 20th- and 21st-century art. Its mission is to deepen public understanding of artworks, spark curiosity, and foster meaningful encounters between artists and audiences in a spirit of openness, dialogue, and shared discovery.

After eighteen months of renovation, the LaM will reopen its doors in February 2026. A transformed museum, a new restaurant with a panoramic terrace, and original furnishings will offer all visitors a renewed and enriched experience.