In this edition of NOT ON THE GUEST LIST;
✔ Dive into the spectacle and subtleties of Art Brussels art fair
✔ The "Off-Programme" brings grassroots art access across Brussels, bypassing elitist barriers
✔ Monumental sculptures and video works aim to draw attention to the transactional nature of art fairs
✔ And much more!
Art fairs are a carnival — only here, champagne replaces cotton candy, and sweater vest-wearing gallerists play fortune teller, forecasting art market trends with practised charm.
Art Brussels, now in its 41st edition, brings together 165 galleries and more than 800 artists. It’s an ever-growing beast. And like any beast, it’s hungry for status and the next collectable moment.
The fair talks a big game about innovation and inclusion, but look a little closer and you’ll see how much of it still runs on familiar faces and the comfort of the status quo.
A Marketplace Sugarcoated in Cultural Subtext
Art Brussels is a market — a slick, perfectly lit arena where artwork is moved with the same energy as luxury cars and watches. Its vast offerings are divided into “curated” sections like Prime, Solo, Discovery, and '68 Forward — a cosmetic update to the former Rediscovery section. The selections are made by a jury that, while no doubt seasoned, is predominantly white. Brussels may talk of progress, but some corners still seem comfortably behind the curve.
To dress up the transactional core, the fair throws in a few cultural side dishes. The Screen features a selection of video works. Monumental sculptures are scattered throughout the halls, maybe to remind you that art can still be awe-inspiring, even when it costs as much as a vacation home.
No art fair is complete without a touch of performative philanthropy — another opportunity for a tax write-off, dressed up in the language of altruism. There’s The KickCancer Collection, a charity initiative supporting pediatric cancer research through the sale of democratically priced, postcard-sized works donated by artists. It’s a noble gesture, and yes, it raises money for a good cause. But when the same sweater vests are swapping yacht itineraries between bids, it’s hard not to wonder: how much of this is genuine generosity?
Strip away the rhetoric, and what remains feels less like a curatorial vision and more like a branding exercise — designed to keep the fair relevant and just edgy enough to sell well.
The fair positions itself as a cultural hub — but for those not inside the curated bubble, it can feel like background noise to a party you weren’t invited to.
Many local artists watch the scene unfold each year with a mix of curiosity and quiet frustration. Some will eventually make it in. Many won’t. And the longer they’re outside, the harder it is to imagine a path inward that doesn’t involve compromise or connection.
Art Brussels is a vital hub for contemporary art in Europe, no doubt. It gives exposure to emerging talent, creates networks, and sparks conversations. But it’s also about spectacle, optics, and profitability. For all its talk of innovation and cultural engagement, it still caters — mostly — to a world that can afford to collect. And that world often looks like legacy wealth wrapped in the aforementioned sweater vests, smiling politely as they contemplate a €100,000 artwork that addresses late-stage capitalism.
Swing from the trapeze. If you’re in Brussels this weekend, go. But don’t look for transcendence: Art Brussels is here to keep the carousel spinning and the euros flowing. For the lucky few, it’s a golden ticket. For everyone else, it’s a reminder: the art world talks a big game about access and inclusion, but it still knows how to draw a line, smiling politely while it does it.
ART BRUSSELS: OFF-PROGRAMME
Outside the Expo’s corridors, the Off-Programme sprawls across the city where over 100 galleries, artist-run spaces, non-profits, and private collections join the action, offering up pop-up shows, performances, and late-night openings.
It’s an ambitious attempt to inject the fair with something more grassroots and grounded. It’s also the most accessible part of Art Brussels, and arguably its most redeeming quality, where you don’t need a VIP pass or gallery connections to walk in. But with so many events scattered around the city, it can feel less like a choose-your-own-adventure that ends in existential fatigue.
Here’s the entire summarised programme:
Fondation Blan’s one-night-only performance Kaze to Arashi unfolds Friday, April 25, blending Isabella Soupart’s choreography with a soundscape by David Achenberg and dancer Marita Schwanke. Doors open at 8:00 pm, with the performance at 8:30 pm. Also at Fondation Blan, Julie Krakowski’s textile installation Murmuration is on view, meditating on collective memory and natural movement.
At MOONENS Foundation, AQUIFER by Mao Wu and Mina Albespy dives into underground urban ecologies and unseen water systems.
The Herbert Foundation presents The Collection Herbert, a deep-dive into conceptual and minimalist works by Carl Andre, Sol LeWitt, and Marcel Broodthaers. A guided tour takes place Sunday, April 27 at 2:30 pm. Across the street, Herbert Foundation hosts Rodney Graham’s Sumptuous Allegories of Nothingness, featuring his immersive book-based installations.
At ARGOS, SOLACE brings together moving image works from artists like Sohrab Hura and Emily Vey Duke & Cooper Battersby, exploring comfort amid disruption. A special finissage event takes place Saturday evening with extended hours and live programming.
Art & History Museum hosts Works of Art & Copies in its Plastercast Workshop, curated by Laurence Petrone. Featuring artists like Max Pinckers and Sophie Whettnall, the exhibition investigates how replicas reshape our view of originals.
Art et Marges Museum presents Aussi loin qu'ici, a poetic exhibition with works by Yassir Amazine and Nour Ben Slimane that reflect on migration, identity, and emotional distance.
BOZAR delivers multiple powerhouses. When We See Us explores global Black figuration with works from artists like Michael Armitage and Nina Chanel Abney, while Khorós by Berlinde De Bruyckere brings myth and ritual into sculptural form. Eastern European identity is unpacked in Familiar Strangers, presenting a Polish perspective on the region’s cultural dynamics.
BOZAR also presents Suchan Kinoshita, the 2025 Belgian Art Prize laureate, known for transforming architecture and sound into lived experience.
In Charleroi, BPS22 showcases Off Voices, a bold solo by Candice Breitz curated by Dorothée Duvivier, interrogating who gets to speak and be heard in contemporary culture.
CC Strombeek hosts two parallel solo shows: Why tell a dead man the future by Rindon Johnson and Us Open by Maarten Van Roy—both challenging narrative and memory through sculpture, video, and installation.
CC Zwaneberg launches Traject, a group exhibition spotlighting emerging Flemish artists like Amber Henderikx and Peter Van Bree. The opening night takes place Friday at 8:00 pm, with artists in attendance.
Frédéric de Goldschmidt’s collection, featuring works by Mona Hatoum and Walid Raad, is on display at Cloud Seven. Also, Julia E. Dyck presents a lecture-performance exploring communication and perception through voice and electronics.
Garage Cosmos showcases a retrospective of renowned artist Vito Acconci’s early performance works.
Jean-Pierre Bertrand’s photographic exploration of light and form is featured at Garage Cosmos.
A group exhibition by Icelandic artists is on view at Résidence Huet-Repolt.
At ETE 78, see works by Antony Gormley, Hana Miletic, and more from private Belgian collections.
Works by Cindy Sherman, Zanele Muholi, and Danh Vo are presented at the Servais Family Collection.
Artists like Amoako Boafo and Tracey Emin are featured at VANHAERENTS ART COLLECTION.
Senne presents works by Michael Bell-Smith, Ross Bleckner, and more. The collection explores the intersection of art, technology, and the digital world, offering an engaging view into contemporary creativity.
Lick the Stars: Maya de Mondragon and Louiz Castella showcase a unique exhibition merging visual art with themes of desire and identity. Their works delve into the intricate layers of social interaction.
Art & Révélations features Le fil sous tension, a group show exploring connectivity, tension, and interaction. Artists involved work with diverse mediums, creating a dynamic dialogue between the pieces.
Asifose presents a collaborative exhibition featuring Arnaud Eubelen and Ale Mangindaan. Their works investigate personal narrative and the intersection of cultural influences.
Chapelle de Boondael hosts Camille Truyffaut’s Mirage, a thought-provoking show that blends art with environmental and psychological themes. Truyffaut’s pieces question perception and the boundaries of reality.
Exploring identity and internal landscapes through bold visual storytelling, CLIPPER CUTS features Sara Anstis and Marta Ravasi, whose works combine the abstract and the emotional.
Tania Wolska takes over the Espace Européen pour la Sculpture with her latest exhibition. Her work challenges societal norms, examining themes of growth and the human condition.
Out of the Blue at Espace Triphasé features multiple artists working with experimental techniques. The exhibition invites viewers to reflect on the unpredictable nature of life and creativity.
Bernd Lohaus & Nora Schultz exhibit their works at Etablissement d’en face, exploring the boundaries of art and the human experience. Their installations invite a conversation between form and meaning.
Raphaël Van Lerberghe’s FIXER – LE B.A.-BA delves into the role of the fixer in modern media and culture. The exhibition critiques the manipulation of images and narratives.
Lente Printemps, an exhibition by Badi Rezzak and Zélie Boulestreau at Gilbard, explores the tension between fleeting moments and the permanence of memory in contemporary art.
GLUON showcases The Falling City by Noemi Iglesias Barrios, which captures the collapse of structures, exploring societal fragility and renewal.
Institut Liszt Bruxelles presents Koen Vanmechelen and Sándor Körei, offering a fusion of contemporary thought with cross-cultural exploration. Their works bridge boundaries between cultures, nature, and media.
JAP – Jeunesse et Arts Plastiques presents Depending Shadows, a mesmerizing installation by Ulla Von Brandenburg. It immerses viewers in an exploration of shadows and identity through light.
KBK artspace brings together the works of David Batchelor and others. Their pieces explore colour, geometry, and the urban experience in a bold, contemporary context.
Jimena Chávez Delion’s Not Hiding at Kult XL is an exploration of hidden truths and identities, presented through captivating visual narratives.
