The University Comes to the Museum
In 9 days
Across three sessions, university teaching opens its doors to everyone at the Centre Pompidou-Metz. Catherine Bourdieu, associate professor and art historian at the University of Lorraine, invites her students and the general public alike to follow a series of lectures conceived in dialogue with the exhibition "Séraphine Louis: From Senlis and Without Rival". It's a fine chance to extend your visit through art history, broadening perspectives, periods and knowledge. Three sessions punctuate the cycle: on 18 November 2026, "The Tree of Jesse"; on 25 November 2026, "The Art of Flower Arrangements"; and on 2 December 2026, "Fruits: Ornaments or Major Symbols in Still Life?". Admission is by reservation.
Three lectures echoing Séraphine Louis
The cycle extends the exhibition devoted to Séraphine Louis, with three themed sessions on 18 and 25 November and 2 December 2026.
University open to all
Students and the general public share the same benches to discover art history with a specialist from the University of Lorraine.
Beneath Shigeru Ban's roof, from the Wendel auditorium to Séraphine Louis
The series takes place in the Wendel auditorium, a 144-seat hall inside the building by Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines, opened in May 2010 beneath its timber frame. Its themes respond to the retrospective in Gallery 2, from 31 October 2026 to 12 April 2027, which brings together over 90 works out of about a hundred catalogued. Born in Arsy in 1864, she died in 1942: Séraphine Louis worked as a servant, then a cleaner in Senlis, and was a self-taught painter spotted by the collector Wilhelm Uhde. Flowers, fruit and trees dominate her painting, which explains the choice of the three sessions.
Arriving by train and taking your time in the Amphithéâtre district
These Wednesdays lend themselves to a return trip by train: Metz-Ville station, served by TER and TGV trains, borders the Amphithéâtre district, created on former railway land for offices, shops and housing. The museum anchors this new piece of the city, between the tracks and the Seille park. As the 18 November class is announced for 3pm and lasts two hours, keep the morning for Gallery 2, then have lunch nearby. A stroll in the park rounds off the day when the weather allows, and the historic centre stays within reach by Mettis before your train home.
Practical information
Address: Le Centre Pompidou-Metz, 1 parvis des Droits-de-l'Homme, 57000 Metz
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book?
Yes, admission to the sessions is by reservation.
Who leads these lectures?
Catherine Bourdieu, associate professor and art historian at the University of Lorraine.
How do you get to the Centre Pompidou-Metz without a car?
Mettis lines A and B stop at the Centre Pompidou-Metz station, and Metz-Ville railway station adjoins the district. If you do come by car, an underground car park with 700 spaces is reached via avenue François-Mitterrand.
Where should you sleep to attend several sessions?
The Imperial quarter, near the station, keeps the museum close at hand if you are attending several Wednesdays. To compare it with other parts of Metz and look for accommodation, turn to Staylaro's guide « Se loger à Metz ».
