It all began with the construction of the Societe Generale towers at La Défense, which offer amazing exhibition spaces in which to experience and enjoy the visual arts. The Group began collecting contemporary art in 1995, and as the collection has grown over the years, it has become the basis for a genuine policy of corporate patronage.

Our collection currently includes over 700 lithographs, prints and serigraphs and 300 major original works, most of which are sculptures, paintings and photographs. It includes work by some of the greatest names in contemporary art, including Pierre Soulages, Pierre Aleschinsky, Zao Wou-Ki, Antoni Tapiès and photographer Thomas Ruff. Offering a remarkable overview of creativity in the visual arts from the end of the 1970s to the present day, it expresses the full diversity of styles and schools.

Our collection is now part of the daily lives of our employees, many of whom regularly attend the monthly educational conferences. People also use individual works of art as landmarks and meeting points, like Barry Flanagan’s Elephant, which has become a favourite pre-lunch meeting point.

We also loan pieces to the museums of France's major cities and to international institutions.

>> Discover all our works of art on collectionsocietegenerale.com