Designed by architect Jean Nouvel, this new permanent exhibition space will house the exceptional donation of 36 works by Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière to France in 2018. The transfer of the works to the museum is being accompanied by an ambitious scientific and cultural project.

An exceptional collection

In the space of just a few years, Marc Ladreit de Lacharri.re amassed a collection that has become a benchmark on the international stage and which contains a large number of masterpieces. He chose to focus on works from Africa and Oceania, the aesthetic quality and powerful presence of which ensure their place among universal artistic heritage. African statuary art occupies a central place in the ensemble, which brings together a series of works with diverse forms, origins and chronology. Among them are the Songye Nkisi Protector Statue (Central Kalebwe, (Democratic Republic of the Congo, 19th century), the Senoufo Seated Maternity Figure (C.te d’Ivoire, Northern Region, pre-1952) and the Baoulé Seated Male Figure (C.te d’Ivoire, 19th century).

Begun in 2005, the genesis of this collection is closely linked to the creation of the museum. It was also presented to the public during the exhibition Eclectic. A 21st Century Collection (23 November 2016 – 2 April 2017) as part of the museum’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

An unprecedented deed of gift for the museum 

Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière decided to gift this collection to France, so that it would be displayed at the musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac. The gift was officialised on 15 February 2018 by the French Ministers of Culture and Research, and represented the most significant donation of artworks from Africa and Oceania – in terms of its size and quality – since 1945. Valued at almost €50 million, the donation took place in several stages and concerns 36 works. 

An aesthetic experience

Designed by architect Jean Nouvel, the display of this collection will emphasise the powerful presence of these works through an original and poetical scenographic installation. An expression of creativity resulting in a spectacular yet intimate staging, which puts visitors in a state of mind to consider the artistic perfection of each masterpiece. Through both its format and its harmony, the exhibition circuit helps build a close connection with the works. A unique aesthetic experience inspired by the encounter between a collector and a creator.

A website and extensive documentary resources

An extensive iconography has been compiled to illustrate this collection. Multimedia content on the origin of works, in-depth contextual, cartographic and historical information, filmed testimonies... The museography will provide simple digital access to numerous resources to expand knowledge and