Brussels' Contemporary Art Scene: A Neighborhood Guide
Contemporary art in Brussels flourishes across various neighborhoods, with Kanal 11 and Kanal 20 on Boulevard Barthélémy housing galleries such as Galerie W, Archétype, and Dewart. In September, Kanal 20 welcomed Les Filles du Calvaire. Key exhibitions feature Massimo Vitali's photography at Crown Gallery and a trilogy of landscapes at Les Filles du Calvaire. The lower city is home to Galerie Meert Rihoux and Argos, while the upper city along Avenue Louise boasts Rodolphe Janssen and Xavier Hufkens. Support from institutions like Palais des Beaux-Arts and the forthcoming Centre Artesia is notable. Additionally, private entities like Verrière Hermès and grassroots projects such as Magasins and Ici et maintenant highlight the vibrant cultural scene in Brussels.
Key facts
- Brussels' art venues are clustered in neighborhoods, not a single center.
- Kanal 11 and Kanal 20 buildings host multiple galleries; Clara Rainhorn and Marwan Hoss closed, replaced by Galerie W.
- Les Filles du Calvaire opened at Kanal 20 in September.
- Massimo Vitali exhibited photographs of Belgian and Dutch coastlines at Crown Gallery.
- Les Filles du Calvaire showed a landscape trilogy by Denniston, Cuisset, and De Pietri.
- Michel Couturier and Cel Crabeels presented video works at Galerie Guy Ledune.
- Herbert Hamak's wax paintings at Windows, Lucia Blu's ceramics at Albert Baronian.
- Artiscope held a trans-avant-garde sculpture exhibition.
- Lower city galleries include Meert Rihoux, Jan Mot, Galerie P, Christian Drantmann, and Argos.
- Argos Festival 2001 directory is a key reference for film, video, and performance.
- Upper city galleries occupy diverse architectural spaces: Rodolphe Janssen (former garage), Aéroplastic (mansion), Damasquine and Hyper Space (bourgeois houses), Taché-Lévy (commercial), Xavier Hufkens (renovated hotel), Dorothée De Pauw (minimalist).
- These galleries participate in Art Brussels.
- Palais des Beaux-Arts hosts major exhibitions like Voici, Broodthaers, Marthe Wéry.
- Centre Artesia for contemporary art will open in 2002 in former Bruxelles 2000 spaces.
- Verrière Hermès shows monographic exhibitions of Marin Kasimir, Philippe Ramette, Roman Opalka.
- ISELP exhibits Bob Verschueren, Johan Muyle, Le Clonage d'Adam.
- Atelier 340 in Jette is a pioneering independent space directed by Wodek.
- Magasins offers temporary exhibitions in vacant shop windows.
- Ici et maintenant exhibition at Tour & Taxis addressed studios and residencies.
- Contretype offers residencies leading to production and exhibitions.
- Maison de Marijke Schreurs, Établissements d'en face, and Témoins oculistes support young artists.
- Témoins oculistes' exhibition Instants fragiles at Passage de Retz in Paris showcased Brussels' scene.
Entities
Artists
- Massimo Vitali
- Denniston
- Cuisset
- De Pietri
- Michel Couturier
- Cel Crabeels
- Herbert Hamak
- Lucia Blu
- Marin Kasimir
- Philippe Ramette
- Roman Opalka
- Bob Verschueren
- Johan Muyle
- Marthe Wéry
- Broodthaers
- Wodek
- Marijke Schreurs
Institutions
- Clara Rainhorn
- Marwan Hoss
- Galerie W
- Archétype
- Dewart
- Les Filles du Calvaire
- La Lettre volée
- Ad!Dict!
- Crown Gallery
- Galerie Guy Ledune
- Windows
- Albert Baronian
- Artiscope
- Galerie Meert Rihoux
- Galerie Jan Mot
- Galerie P
- Galerie Christian Drantmann
- Argos
- Argos Festival
- Galerie Rodolphe Janssen
- Aéroplastic
- Damasquine
- Hyper Space
- Taché-Lévy
- Galerie Xavier Hufkens
- Galerie Dorothée De Pauw
- Art Brussels
- Palais des Beaux-Arts
- Centre Artesia
- Bruxelles 2000
- Verrière Hermès
- ISELP
- Atelier 340
- Magasins
- Tour & Taxis
- Contretype
- Maison de Marijke Schreurs
- Établissements d'en face
- Témoins oculistes
- Passage de Retz
- Galerie Dewart
- Filles du Calvaire
- Passage Jan Mot
- Christian Drantmann
- Rodolphe Janssen
- Xavier Hufkens
- Dorothée De Pauw
Locations
- Brussels
- Belgium
- Kanal 11
- Kanal 20
- Boulevard Barthélémy
- Grand-Place
- Avenue Louise
- Rue du Canal
- Rue Antoine Dansaert
- Rue des Eperonniers
- Rue du Chantier
- Rue de Livourne
- Rue Blanche
- Rue de l'Aurore
- Rue Van Elewijck
- Rue Tenbosch
- Rue Saint-Georges
- Rue Charles Decoster
- Avenue de la Jonction
- Avenue Van Volxem
- Rue d'Artois
- Place du 4 août
- Rue Royale
- Boulevard de Waterloo
- Drève de Rivieren
- Jette
- Paris
- France