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The LaM (Lille Métropole Museum of Modern Art, Contemporary Art, and Outsider Art)

More than just a museum, the LaM is an immersion in art (modern, outsider, and contemporary) and, since its reopening in 2025, in the French art of living through the signature cuisine of Florent Ladeyn. A place where you can discover, marvel, question, and indulge.

A passion for modern art: a family affair

Located in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, in the Lille metropolitan area, and set in the heart of a green park dotted with monumental works, the LaM owes its modern art collection to Roger Dutilleul, the first Frenchman to take an interest in Cubism, and to his nephew and heir Jean Masurel. Passionate about Paul Cézanne but unable to afford his works, Roger turned to the young artists of his time and thus assembled an exceptional collection of modern art. 

Upon his death in 1956, he passed it on to Jean, who, with his wife, supported local artists such as Eugène Leroy and Arthur Van Ecke, thus helping to anchor the museum in both local and international history. In 1976, Jean Masurel donated it to the Lille Urban Community.
 
But what makes the LaM truly unique is its collection of art brut, one of the richest in Europe. Thanks to a donation from the Aracine association, the museum was able to incorporate works by Henry Darger, Auguste Forestier, Madge Gill, and many other artists, often self-taught and marginalized, whose works today fascinate collectors, researchers, and visitors alike. In 2007, an extension was created to provide a dedicated, immersive, and poetic space for this collection that breaks new ground in art. A place where visitors can stroll among works in a wide variety of forms (furniture, texts, sculptures, etc.).

An outdoor art trail and a signature restaurant

The LaM is also an open-air museum thanks to its 15-hectare sculpture park, which exhibits works by Deacon or Picasso in a peaceful natural setting. And since 2025, the museum has offered the immersive “Obsession” trail. This sensory, emotional, and multimedia experience invites visitors to immerse themselves in the intimate world of artists (their obsessions, pains, and joys) through videos, sounds, lights, and objects. The tour is designed to question and reveal what art can say about the human soul.
 
And to extend the visual experience with a taste immersion, in 2025 the LaM opened a new restaurant run by one of the most daring and talented chefs in the Hauts de France region: Florent Ladeyn. In an elegant and bright space, Pigments offers signature cuisine inspired by the museum's works and made with local, seasonal produce. It's the perfect place to have lunch, dinner, or simply enjoy a drink while admiring the sculptures.

A rich cultural program and a museum café

In addition to its permanent exhibitions, the LaM offers a wide range of activities for all ages and tastes:
  • Temporary exhibitions, 
  • Lectures,
  • Workshops, 
  • Guided tours, 
  • Musical evenings.

After one of these events, the museum café also offers local and seasonal cuisine in a warm and friendly setting. It's the ideal place to recharge your batteries while taking in the many works you admired during your visit.
In conclusion, the LaM is a place for living, discovering, and experiencing new sensations. And with more than 7,000 works in its collections, it offers a unique experience in Europe, combining modern art, contemporary art, and art brut.

Jessica from Comme des Français
 
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