Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée d'art contemporain de Lyon (macLYON) was created in 1983 and initially installed in a wing of the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Palais Saint-Pierre). His first significant exhibition, in 1984, features a monumental work by Georges Adilon at the October Arts event, only one sixth of which is exhibited due to its imposing dimensions (16.56 × 52 metres). This period inaugurates a policy of production of specific works adapted to museum constraints.

In 1995, the museum moved into a building designed by architect Renzo Piano, in the heart of the International City, an architectural complex one kilometre long bordering the Golden Head Park. The project retains the historic façade of the former Palais de la Foire de Lyon, while integrating flexible interior spaces to meet the needs of artists and exhibitions. The inauguration coincides with the third Lyon Biennale, focusing on video and new technologies.

The macLYON was directed from its creation in 1984 by Thierry Raspail, also co-founder of the Biennale de Lyon, until its departure in 2018. Isabelle Bertolotti, former director of exhibitions, succeeded him that year, accompanied by Julien Nemoz as secretary general from 2022. Since 2018, the museum has formed a common centre with the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, under the general direction of Sylvie Ramond.

The building, designed to accommodate various contemporary works (paintings, sculptures, installations, videos), is distinguished by its double facade: an old part on the park side and a modern part open to the city. MacLYON also hosted international events such as the 1996 G7 summit, which reinforced its cultural outreach.

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