Whether it’s artists fighting for their social benefits or the everyday person too scared to try something new, a lot is going on that demands we think deeper, take risks, and embrace creativity in all its forms.
From fashion that smashes gender norms to photography that turns beauty into a quiet act of rebellion, it's a wake-up call to show up and engage. So, whether you're eyeing ceramics classes or that €3 million Magritte at auction, remember: it’s all about making space for what makes us human.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO
You tell yourself you’re not artistic. That you couldn’t draw a stick figure if your life depended on it. That art classes are too expensive, too time-consuming, and too impractical. You scroll past pottery workshops, painting courses — convincing yourself creativity is for other people. The ones with talent. The ones with free time. Maybe you even bought supplies once, telling yourself you’d start one day.
The cycle of excuses is just fear in disguise. I do it, too. But the reality is that no one is born knowing how to do anything. While YouTube tutorials might help you learn alone, they won’t adjust your hands, push you past frustration, or celebrate with you when something finally clicks. That only happens when you show up and make (a lot of) mistakes.
You say you can’t afford an art class or that it has no value to your career. Zoom out for a second. Not everything has to be monetized or turned into a side hustle. The reward is presence and the quiet realization that maybe — just maybe — you were creative all along.
Take matters into your own hands: Atelier Tou, Studio Kiwi, Terracotta, and Hidarinia are just a few spots in Brussels where you can try ceramics. FiKVA Workshops and Atelier TÉKĪN are great for figure drawing.
Many studios offer one-offs, trial periods, apéros, and week-long intensive courses that are also a perfect way to meet other curious, creative souls. A simple Google search will show you what’s in your area. Cacko, for example, hosts “ceramics and brunch” events now and then.
Pro tip: Almost every commune in Brussels has an academy offering art lessons in multiple disciplines at very affordable prices. Académie de Saint-Gilles and Académie d’Ixelles, to name a few.
IN THE NEWS
Belgium’s statut d'artiste is under threat as Minister David Clarinval’s proposed unemployment reforms could limit artists’ access to benefits, sparking backlash from the cultural sector.
If Clarinval’s reforms pass, many artists could lose access to unemployment benefits, forcing them into more precarious work.
Belgium’s cultural sector, already struggling with financial instability, risks losing talent to countries with stronger artist protections, weakening its global influence and creative output.
René Magritte’s rare gouache La Peine Perdue is heading to auction at Christie’s Paris on April 9th, with an estimated price between €2.6 and €3.6 million. Any takers?
EXHIBITIONS (& MORE) ON MY RADAR
Handle with Care at Whitehouse Gallery features works by two amazing Brussels-based artists, Lucie Lanzini and Emilie Terlinden, exploring themes of fragility, materiality, and transformation through diverse artistic perspectives. Vernissage on March 29 from 4 to 7 pm.
Super Conceptual Pop at Fondation CAB explores the dynamics of Pop and Conceptual Art, showcasing works that challenge artistic conventions through irony, consumer culture, and intellectual provocation. Opening is on April 1st from noon.
This weekend is the last chance to see Charleroi Danse’s La Raffinerie's new edition of Festival Legs, which blends historical and contemporary perspectives to highlight dance’s often-overlooked political and activist dimensions.
Design Market Brussels gathers European dealers in vintage furniture and 20th-century design for a key event for collectors and design lovers. It takes place this weekend at Tour & Taxis.
3 Collectionneurs #12 at ETE 78 offers a glimpse into the private collections of three passionate art collectors, highlighting diverse and personal selections of contemporary works. Vernissage on April 12 from 4 to 8 pm.
In an era of chaos and division, Beauty as Resistance showcases Michiel Hendryckx’s storytelling photography as a quiet but powerful act of defiance. The exhibition takes place at St Peter's Abbey in Ghent.
Fashion & Interiors: A Gendered Affair at MoMu explores the relationship between fashion and interior design as expressions of gender and societal norms, from the domestic spaces of the 19th century to modern design. It opens this weekend.
The Vanhaerents Art Collection in Brussels is one of the city's most revered private collections (open to the public), curated by the influential Vanhaerents family. Known for their discerning eye, they’ve amassed a remarkable array of contemporary works over the years.
Currently on display is EXH#03 – Year of the Dragon, which draws on cultural symbolism. Ai Weiwei’s Life Vest Snake (2019), a poignant installation reflecting on the refugee crisis through Eastern iconography, is a highlight.
