ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Large Contemporary Art Centre Opens on Île Séguin Near Paris with Renault-Inspired Inaugural Show

institutional · 2026-06-03

On 17 October, Île Séguin in Greater Paris will welcome Large, a contemporary art center operated as a non-profit. This six-story venue, spanning 2,500 sq m, is developed by Emerige and serves as a cornerstone for the Pointe des Arts project designed by RCR Arquitectes in collaboration with CALQ. Unlike traditional private museums, Large will not house a permanent collection and aims to enhance public access while supporting French artists. The opening exhibition, Imaginary Engine, curated by Cecilia Alemani, showcases works from the Fonds Renault pour l'Art et la Culture alongside 17 new commissions. Director Paula Aisemberg highlights a commitment to artists residing in France. Emerige president Laurent Dumas's vision is realized, while Boulogne-Billancourt mayor Pierre-Christophe Baguet describes Pointe des Arts as a cultural "jewel." A new metro station at Pont de Sèvres is anticipated for 2027.

Key facts

  • Large opens on 17 October on the Île Séguin in Greater Paris.
  • The centre is a non-profit with no permanent collection, focused on public access and French artists.
  • It occupies a six-story, 2,500 sq m building within the Pointe des Arts complex designed by RCR Arquitectes and CALQ.
  • The inaugural exhibition, Imaginary Engine, is curated by Cecilia Alemani and features 17 new commissions alongside works from the Fonds Renault pour l'Art et la Culture.
  • The Île Séguin was owned by Renault from 1919 to 1992 and housed its primary manufacturing plant.
  • Director Paula Aisemberg emphasizes support for artists living and working in France, regardless of nationality.
  • The project is the culmination of efforts by Emerige founding president Laurent Dumas, who founded the Révélations Emerige prize in 2014.
  • Previous redevelopment plans for the island by François Pinault and Yves Bouvier failed; the Pointe des Arts is part of the Vallée de la Culture initiative launched in 2008.
  • A Grand Paris express metro station at Pont de Sèvres is scheduled to open in 2027, improving access to the island.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • Large
  • Emerige
  • RCR Arquitectes
  • CALQ
  • Cartier Foundation
  • Louis Vuitton Foundation
  • Fonds Renault pour l'Art et la Culture
  • Révélations Emerige
  • Hauts-de-Seine department
  • Vallée de la Culture
  • Cité de la Céramique
  • Manufacture Nationale
  • Musée des Années 30
  • Albert Kahn Museum and Gardens
  • Musée Belmondo
  • Musée du Grand Siècle
  • Caserne Sully
  • Grand Paris express
  • Fondation du Collège de France
  • Groupe Emerige
  • Renault
  • Seine Musicale
  • Musée Soulages
  • Pathé
  • Baumschlager Eberle Architekten
  • High Line
  • Artribune
  • Emerige Group
  • Olivetti
  • EAT - Experiments in Art and Technology
  • Fonds Renault pour l’Art et la Culture
  • La Maison Rouge
  • Beaux Arts Magazine
  • Art Basel Paris
  • musée Soulages
  • musée national d’Art moderne
  • Biennale de Venise
  • Mrac – Musée régional d’art contemporain Occitanie / Pyrénées Méditerranée
  • Palais des beaux-arts de Lille
  • musée Carnavalet
  • neugerriemschneider
  • Le Large
  • Fonds Renault
  • Renault Collection
  • Cité de la céramique de Sèvres
  • Musée-jardin Albert Kahn
  • Fondation Vuitton
  • Collection Pinault
  • Fondation Cartier
  • Fondation Pernod Ricard
  • Fondation Lafayette Anticipation
  • Connaissance des Arts
  • La Seine Musicale
  • Wallpaper*
  • The New York Times
  • National Public Radio
  • Fortune
  • SmartPlanet
  • Associated Press
  • Impact Journalism Day
  • Solutions & Co
  • Where Paris
  • Large – Cultures contemporaines
  • Pointe des Arts
  • Ardian Real Estate
  • AOG
  • La Pointe des Arts
  • Ateliers Jean Nouvel
  • CALQ Architecture
  • designboom
  • RCR
  • Pritzker Prize

Locations

  • Île Séguin
  • Paris
  • France
  • Pointe des Arts
  • Porte de Saint-Cloud
  • Pont de Sèvres
  • Seine
  • Bois de Boulogne
  • St Denis
  • Hauts-de-Seine
  • Boulogne-Billancourt
  • Île Saint-Germain
  • Sèvres
  • Saint-Cloud
  • La Défense
  • Orly
  • Spain
  • Île Seguin
  • Rodez
  • New York
  • Flins
  • Venice
  • Italy
  • Lille
  • Berlin
  • Germany
  • Grand Paris
  • Meudon
  • Issy-les-Moulineaux
  • United States
  • Greater Paris
  • Billancourt

Sources

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