Being on a “list” in the art world promises insider access but rarely delivers intrigue. It’s mostly the same familiar faces, eager to snag free hors d’oeuvres — a shocking sight, considering their net worth. Real exclusivity, however, lies in knowing where to look. With an eye and ear for the unexpected, I’ll share the happenings, events, and stories shaping the artistic landscape of Brussels and beyond. No need to be on that “list.”
SO WHAT'S NEW?
Like watching a masterpiece slowly undress until it’s back to its former glory, visitors can witness the restoration of Jacob Jordaens’ The Appointment of Peter as Chief Shepherd of the Church (1616-17), at Snijders & Rockoxhuis until the end of the year before it returns to St. James' Church.
Nearby, the restoration of Rubens’ Enthroned Madonna Adored by Saints (1628) is being performed at KMSKA until September 2025.
Belgium will send a performance artist to the Venice Biennale next year for the first time. Miet Warlop and curator Caroline Dumalin clinched the spot, edging out 20 other artistic teams in a fierce competition.
Belgian art under the hammer: Picture Belgian Symbolist Jean Delville in 1913, pockets jingling with the spoils of a five-panel commission at the Brussels Courthouse. He’s also just painted L’oubli des Passions which sold at Christie’s last week for £176,400. Consigned from the estate of Dame Edna, it feels modest for a piece embodying the lofty aspirations of the Belle Époque.
EXPOS ON MY RADAR
Size Does Not Matter. While we might argue otherwise in some contexts, that is the title of Gallery Nosco’s latest exhibition featuring small-scale works exploring the power of intimacy.
…Or Does it? Joana Vasconcelos goes in the opposite direction with her massive, kaleidoscopic installation at Galerie La Patinoire Royale Bach.
Freedom and censorship and political violence, oh my! Over at Templon, Jan Van Imschoot’s Le Hasard dans les Opinions riffs on literary heavyweights like Camus and Proust—executed in his signature "anarcho-baroque" style.
Art History, Corrected. Bozar’s When We See Us boldly asks the art world, “What took you so long?” 150 artists, spanning a century of Black representation, finally get their due in the art historical canon. Curated by Koyo Kouoh, the first African woman to lead the Venice Biennale in 2026, the show has already turned heads in South Africa and Switzerland.
A late evening event surrounding the exhibition takes place next week at Bozar, hosted by Brussels-based collective Som•m•e Of Us.
The month of the camera. At Lee Bauwens, Jungjin Lee’s monochrome photography brings a painterly stillness, shown alongside Jaeuk Lee, another young distinctive voice.
Skeptical of AI’s place in art and photography, I walked into Hangar’s AImagine and left more unsettled. The show confronted me with a poignant question: how much of what we call truth is a fabrication? And more importantly—would we even know if it were?
Michael Crichton’s futuristic forecasts come to mind. This Saturday at Hangar, Justyna Kociszewska will give a talk on AI’s role in art with a focus on Central Europe’s evolving relationship with this new frontier. A perfect pregame for a Westworld binge.
SCENE & BE SEEN
Reset’s parties are less open bar and more open-interpretation. Their monthly programmed collaboration with Bozar blends sound, vision, and a heavy attendance of La Cambre alumni. If you left without questioning whether you were the art, were you even there?
Dive into luxe art deco vibes at Villa Empain’s late-night Wednesday’s of each month—a midweek mix of culture and intrigue. See Alechinsky, Pinceau Voyageur, a love letter to a Belgian art icon, and time-travel to the ‘30s with Echoes of Art Deco. End the evening with a drink, and a phone number if you’re lucky.
Hear me out—animation is a visual language that transcends traditional art forms, it’s operatic even. Anima Festival, which premieres international and local gems is an Oscar-qualifying event for the Best Animated Shorts category. Fur to screen, I’ve got at least three feline-themed films on my to-see list.
Every month, Maison des Arts hosts their late-night event After Five. In next week's edition, experience their current exhibition Terrain de Jeux, which transforms the space into a playful zone where artists explore the concept of "play" as a tool for interaction and imagination. A live music set by KHALTA follows.
