Art Brut

Created on the margins of society, often in secret, most works of art brut reach us only through the chance of discovery or the intervention of someone close to the artist. For forty-five years, through meetings and serendipitous finds, collector Bruno Decharme devoted himself to gathering these creations, born outside the recognized art world but now forming an essential part of art history. 

Through over 400 works, the exhibition Art Brut. The privacy of a collection. The Decharme donation to the Centre Pompidou traces the history of art brut. All the works come from the major donation made by Bruno Decharme to the Musée National d’Art Moderne - Centre Pompidou. 

Designed like a puzzle, reflecting the kaleidoscope of themes and perspectives that characterize research on art brut, the exhibition reveals the unsuspected creative power of the human spirit when freed from established norms. 

The exhibition also features an interactive virtual reality musical experience inspired by American art brut artist Henry Darger, with an original score by Philippe Cohen Solal. Advance booking is required to access this immersive moment.

Coproduction between Centre Pompidou and GrandPalaisRmn

Curators

Bruno Decharme - Collector and director

Barbara Safarova - Teacher at the Ecole du Louvre and researcher

Associate curators

Cristina Agostinelli - Curator and programme manager, Contemporary Collections Department,Musée National d’Art Moderne - Centre Pompidou

Céline Gazzoletti - Art historian

Valérie Loth - Curator, Graphic Art Department, Musée National d’Art Moderne - Centre Pompidou

Diane Toubert - Archivist, Bibliothèque Kandinsky, Musée national d’art moderne - Centre Pompidou

Scenography : Corinne Marchand

The lighting of part of the exhibition was made possible thanks to the support of Sammode, lighting manufacturer.