The 30th Anniversary of Art Collection: Yann Lacroix, landscapes as sensitive memory

Since its creation in 1995, the Societe Generale Art Collection has become a true statement in support of contemporary creation. With nearly 1,800 works by French and international artists, it reflects the Group’s commitment to a culture that is open, inclusive, and inspiring.

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, we are sharing a series of portrait of artists that bring the Collection to life. This week, we dive into the poetic and introspective world of Yann Lacroix. 

A landscape that doesn’t say everything, but evokes so much

For Yann Lacroix, landscapes go beyond simple representation. They become spaces of memory places where sensations, personal and collective stories, and fragments of experience come together. Inspired by everyday life, art history, and even digital archives, Lacroix creates paintings where time seems to stand still.

His technique is based on a delicate layering process: adding, erasing, covering. Some areas are sharp, others intentionally blurred. This contrast creates a mood that feels both familiar and mysterious, inviting viewers to project their own stories onto the canvas.

Like a “Proust madeleine”, his work stirs buried emotions without ever naming them.
“The canvas becomes an archive of experience, a sedimentation of perspective.”

Quiet but constant inspiration

Far from the clichés of artistic inspiration, Yann Lacroix shares that it’s the simple things that fuel his creativity: conversations, the weather, ongoing projects… even the podcasts he listens to while painting help shape his thoughts.

“What inspires me are the people around me, the weather, the topics I hear in podcasts while I work.”

Strong influences and a bold dream

If he could share a dinner with any artist, it would be Hubert Robert or Eugène Delacroix two major figures in art history whose sensitivity to landscape deeply influenced their work.

And his biggest dream? To one day see one of his paintings enter the Louvre. We’re rooting for him!

A work that naturally belongs in the Collection

As part of the Societe Generale Collection, his artwork Retour is currently exhibited in the foyer of the auditorium Valmy at the Societe Generale Towers in La Défense. It invites viewers to slow down, observe differently, and let themselves be guided by emotion. For Yann Lacroix, this acquisition marks a meaningful milestone in his journey.

“It brings both professional and personal satisfaction it’s a beautiful step in the recognition of my artistic work.”