Laurent Le Bon (born 2 April 1969) is a French art historian who was the director of the Musée Picasso from 2014 to 2021.Nightmare at the Picasso Museum. Jonathan Jones, The Guardian, 16 October 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2016. He is currently president of the Centre Pompidou.
Career An expert in the history of garden art,Scott Sayare (June 4, 2014), Musée Picasso in Paris Names New President New York Times. Le Bon notably curated a major Paris exhibition of garden gnomes in 2000, featuring 2,000 of the creatures, from ancient Egyptian forerunners to works by Jeff Koons.Alex Marshall (June 25, 2021), The Pompidou Center Gets a New Leader New York Times.
That same year, Le Bon joined the Centre Pompidou as a curator, and in 2005 staged “Dada,” a landmark show that traced the art movement's ongoing influence. He also organized an exhibition dedicated to Jeff Koons at the Palace of Versailles in 2008.Gareth Harris (June 25, 2021), Centre Pompidou in Paris names new president as Brussels branch backtracks over ‘sexist’ appointment The Art Newspaper. In 2009, he co-organized the exhibition "Vides: une rétrospective", looking back on the history of the use of empty galleries by artists since Yves Klein. He later oversaw the 2010 opening of Centre Pompidou-Metz, its first outpost, and became the museum's director.Alex Marshall (June 25, 2021), The Pompidou Center Gets a New Leader New York Times. In the following years, he was a candidate for the director posts of the LouvreDavid Jolly (April 3, 2013), New Boss at the Louvre International Herald Tribune. and Centre Pompidou.Scott Sayare (June 4, 2014), Musée Picasso in Paris Names New President New York Times.
In 2014, Le Bon eventually left to take over at the Musée Picasso,Scott Sayare (June 4, 2014), Musée Picasso in Paris Names New President New York Times.Alex Marshall (June 25, 2021), The Pompidou Center Gets a New Leader New York Times. where he oversaw the museum's re-opening after years of construction work.Doreen Carvajal (September 3, 2014), Picasso Museum to Reopen at Last, With New Leader New York Times.
Le Bon was part of the jury which selected Clément Cogitore as winner of the Marcel Duchamp Prize in 2018.Alex Greenberger (15 October 2018), Clément Cogitore Wins 2018 Prix Marcel Duchamp ARTnews.
In 2021, Le Bon was appointed as president of the Centre Pompidou, replacing Serge Lasvignes.Alex Marshall (June 25, 2021), The Pompidou Center Gets a New Leader New York Times.
Personal Life
Laurent is related to renowned structured notes trader, Romain Le Bon. Romain works out of ACP Securities a well-known boutique investment bank located in Miami, FL. Both enjoy making trips to Japan every six months. References