A collection is an ensemble of works, as well as an ensemble of relationships with artists, a commitment to encourage their expression and to create conditions favourable to creation and emergence. Pursuing his constant and long-term support for young artists, François Pinault wanted a Pinault Collection residence offering the best work and research conditions, to welcome them for a year.
The collector joined hands with the former Nord-Pas-de-Calais region and the town of Lens, to create this residence in the former mining town. Established in an abandoned rectory, redesigned by Lucie Niney and Thibault Marca from the NeM agency, it was inaugurated in December 2015.
A space to live and to work, and a monthly grant, the artists residency makes it possible to offer an environment and time for artistic practice in a place equipped for creation, for a period of one year, from September to June. The residents are chosen by a selection committee that includes representatives from the Pinault Collection, the Direction régionale des Affaires culturelles des Hauts-de France, the FRAC Grand Large, Fresnoy-Studio national des arts contemporains, the Louvre-Lens and the LaM.
Since its creation in 2016, the Lens artist residency has welcomed the American duo Melissa Dubbin and Aaron S. Davidson (2016), the Belgian, Edith Dekyndt (2017), the Brazilian, Lucas Arruda (2018), the Franco-Moroccan Hicham Berrada (2019), the French artist Bertille Bak (2019-2020), and this year (2020-2021) the Chilian artist Enrique Ramirez
Liste des résidents de Lens EN
Melik Ohanian
Since September 2021, Melik Ohanian is the eighteenth guest of Pinault Collection’s artist residency program in Lens.
Enrique Ramirez
From September 2020 to June 2021, the Pinault Collection welcomes Enrique Ramírez, the seventh artist as its artist-in-residence at Lens.
Bertille Bak
After Melissa Dubbin & Aaron S. Davidson, Edith Dekyndt, Lucas Arruda, Hicham Berrada, the Pinault Collection welcomed Bertille Bak in its artists’ residency in Lens, from September 2019 to July 2020.
Hicham Berrada
During the year he spent at the Pinault Collection’s artist residency in Lens, Hicham Berrada transformed its workshop into a poetic laboratory. A look back at this fourth season, at the crossroads of science and art.
Lucas Arruda
For its third season, the Pinault Collection’s artist residency in Lens welcomed Brazilian artist Lucas Arruda. Here he describes the work he created there, inspired his first experience of a real winter, far away from his homeland, in the distinctive light of northern France.
Edith Dekyndt
The Pinault Collection’s artist residency welcomed Edith Dekyndt for its second season. The artist paused to describe the projects she developed during her eight months in Lens, which have since been shown in major exhibitions in Europe.
Melissa Dubbin & Aaron S. Davidson
In 2016, Pinault Collection’s artists residency welcomed its first occupants, Melissa Dubbin and Aaron S. Davidson. They look back on their immersion in the area.
Partner institutions
Le Fresnoy – Studio national des arts contemporains
Louvre-Lens
Frac Grand Large – Hauts-de-France
LaM