The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art presents a rare opportunity to hear from a major force in the art world. Laurent Le Bon, a leading authority on modern and contemporary art, will speak December 1. Le Bon serves as Director of the Centre Pompidou-Metz , the new satellite museum of the renowned Centre Pompidou in Paris. The Centre Pompidou is the official home of France’s national collection of modern art.

Le Bon, 41, has been described as the “young Turk of the French art scene.” He’s considered by many to be a rising star among curators worldwide and, as the Director of the Centre Pompidou-Metz, is on his way to changing the face of European cultural institutions.

The lecture will focus on the new French museum’s inaugural exhibition, Masterpieces?, and will touch on the Pompidou-Metz’s objectives, cultural programming and ultramodern museum building (shown above) which sports a Teflon-coated undulating roof. Masterpieces?, curated by Le Bon, considers the notion of the masterpiece through 780 works of art. The Los Angeles Times reported: “Critical reactions to the show include proclamations that it’s the most impressive assembly of 20th century art in all of Europe and accusations that it’s so confusing and anti-hierarchical as to be meaningless.”

EVENT

A pre-lecture reception will be held in the lobby of the Bechtler at 6 p.m. with the lecture taking place in the Wells Fargo Auditorium (inside the Knight Theater) at 6:30 p.m.

TICKETS

Tickets are free for museum members (reservations required), $10 for non-members. Tickets may be reserved and purchased online, by phone at 704.353.9200 or in person at the visitor services desk. 

Image credit:Centre Pompidou-Metz ©Shigeru Ban Architects Europe and Jean de Gastines
Architectes, with Philip Gumuchdjian Architects for the winning project of the competition phase / Metz Métropole / Centre Pompidou-Metz / Photo Roland Halbe