LaM Exhibition 'Singulières' Spotlights Five Self-Taught Women Artists This Autumn
From 3 October 2026 to 14 February 2027, the LaM in Villeneuve-d'Ascq will host 'Singulières – Artistes, autodidactes, affranchies,' an exhibition highlighting self-taught female artists who operate outside conventional art scenes. This showcase utilizes pieces from the L'Aracine collection, the largest public art brut collection in France, featuring notable artists such as Séraphine de Senlis and Aloïse Corbaz. It will also present works by Madge Gill (1882–1961), who worked under the name 'Myrninerest'; Sophie Podolski (1953–1974), who produced many pieces before her untimely passing; Nellie Mae Rowe (1900–1980), recognized for her 'Playhouse'; and Anna Zemánková (1908–1986), who continued drawing daily after losing limbs. An anonymous piece linked to Maria Theresin will also be showcased. Dubuffet has admired these artists since 1945.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Singulières – Artistes, autodidactes, affranchies' runs 3 October 2026 to 14 February 2027 at LaM, Villeneuve-d'Ascq
- LaM's art brut collection originates from the L'Aracine collection and is France's largest public art brut collection, with one third of works by women
- Madge Gill (1882–1961) created under the spirit 'Myrninerest', was shown at Whitechapel Gallery and collected by Jean Dubuffet
- Sophie Podolski (1953–1974) was diagnosed schizophrenic at 20 and died at 21, leaving works made at Brussels' Montfaucon Research Center
- Nellie Mae Rowe (1900–1980) built the 'Playhouse' in Vinings near Atlanta, destroyed after her death in the 1980s
- Anna Zemánková (1908–1986) drew daily from 4am to 7am after double leg amputation, with work shown at the 2013 Venice Biennale
- Séraphine de Senlis is also celebrated this autumn at Centre Pompidou-Metz
- An anonymous drawing attributed to Maria Theresin is linked by similarities to L'Anonyme dit Au cavalier from the L'Aracine collection
Entities
Artists
- Séraphine de Senlis
- Aloïse Corbaz
- Madge Gill
- Maud Ethel Eades
- Sophie Podolski
- Nellie Mae Rowe
- Anna Zemánková
- Maria Theresin
- Jean Dubuffet
- Eva Gonzalès
- Simone Fattal
- Stan Douglas
- Fleury Joseph Crépin
- Baya
- Séraphine Louis
- Jeanne Laporte-Fromage
- André Breton
- Savine Faupin
- Christophe Boulanger
Institutions
- LaM
- Lille Métropole
- Centre Pompidou-Metz
- L'Aracine
- Whitechapel Gallery
- Montfaucon Research Center
- château de Rochechouart
- musée d'art contemporain de la Haute-Vienne
- Beaux Arts Magazine
- ADAGP
- Biennale de Venise
- Aracine
Locations
- Villeneuve-d'Ascq
- France
- Metz
- Brussels
- Belgium
- Fayetteville
- Georgia
- United States
- Vinings
- Atlanta
- Prague
- Czech Republic
- Moravia
- Rochechouart
- Venice
- Italy
- Villeneuve-d’Ascq
- 1 allée du Musée, 59650 Villeneuve-d’Ascq
- Pont de Bois