Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp Reopens After 11-Year Renovation

After 11 years of renovation, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) reopens on September 24, 2022. The museum houses Flanders' largest art collection spanning seven centuries, from Flemish Primitives to Expressionists, including the world's largest single-museum collection of works by James Ensor and Rik Wouters. The renovation, led by KAAN Architecten of Rotterdam, converted four original courtyards into new gallery spaces and added an internal storage facility, increasing exhibition space by 40% without altering the historic building's structure. A new facade, mosaic floor, entrance sculpture, and museum garden complete the transformation. Director Carmen Willems emphasized the museum's focus on art as an individual experience, with interactive offerings promoting participation, inclusion, and diversity. Board president Luk Lemmens highlighted the dynamic between old and new sections. Three inaugural exhibitions will open: 'Cosmorama,' a photographic series by Ives Maes exploring World's Fair pavilions; a retrospective of artist and critic Michel Seuphor featuring 57 drawings from the 2021 Berckelaers Onverdeeldheid donation; and 'The Making Of,' documenting the construction process through Karin Borghouts' photographs.