BRUSSELS.- From 7th to 10th September, 45 art galleries around Brussels will be open to the public as part of the Brussels Gallery Weekend. For its 16th edition the BGW has a special program with a unique central venue in the D’Ieteren headquarters. Over the course of the long weekend, spanning over four days, Brussels will come alive with a vibrant array of exhibitions, performances, and installations. This 16th edition of BGW will count more than 60 openings all around the city. In addition to the exhibitions hosted by galleries, visitors will have the chance to immerse themselves in the 6th edition of the "Generation Brussels" exhibition. Furthermore, BGW introduces two exciting new collaborations with Ateliers Indigo and Globe Aroma, promising a diverse range of artistic experiences. The event also boasts curated routes, guided tours, kids' activities, and more, with further details soon to be announced. With such a rich and varied program, BGW ensures an engaging and captivating experience for all attendees.

PARTICIPATING GALLERIES

Alice Gallery, Almine Rech, Ballon Rouge, Baronian, Belgian Gallery Brussels, Bernier / Eliades, C L E A R I N G, Claes Gallery, Damien & The Love Guru, dépendance, EDJI Gallery, ESTHER VERHAEGHE-Art concepts, Frédérick Mouraux Gallery, Galeria Jaqueline Martins, Galerie Christophe Gaillard, Galerie DYS, Galerie Greta Meert, Galerie La Forest Divonne, Galerie La Patinoire Royale Bach, Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Gallery Nosco, Gladstone Gallery, Harlan Levey Projects, Hopstreet Gallery, Irène Laub Gallery, Jan Mot, KIN, LMNO, Mai 36 Galerie, MARUANI MERCIER, Meessen De Clercq, Mendes Wood DM, Michel Rein, Montoro12 Gallery, Mulier Mulier Gallery, NINO MIER, Nosbaum Reding, QG Gallery, Pierre Marie Giraud, rodolphe janssen, Sorry We're Closed, Stems Gallery, TEMPLON, Waldburger Wouters, Xavier Hufkens

Showcasing Brussels’ gallery scene

Organized annually without fail since 2008, the Brussels Gallery Weekend stands as the second-oldest event of its kind, with the Gallery Weekend in Berlin holding the first position.

From its beginning, the BGW has aimed to showcase the vibrant and diverse contemporary art scene in Brussels where many of the participating galleries have established a strong presence within the artistic landscape. Moreover, this year marks some significant milestones: Albert Baronian gallery will be celebrating its 50th anniversary, Michel Rein's Brussels space its 10th and Galerie Nathalie Obadia has just celebrated its 15th birthday earlier this year.

With its esteemed institutions and a range of private initiatives, including foundations, artist-run spaces, and established galleries, Brussels' art scene has continuously strengthened its position on the international stage in recent years. The city offers a fertile ground for artistic expression and has become a hub where creativity flourishes. As a result, alongside many long-standing galleries, Brussels welcomes new spaces each year.

This is the case for Christophe Gaillard gallery, which will inaugurate its first international space on September 7th.

“Brussels, despite being geographically close to Paris, is an international and vibrant city. Renowned for the curiosity and sharp knowledge of its collectors, Belgium offers a different market compared to France, making it the ideal first step for Galerie Christophe Gaillard as we aspire to embrace the international art scene. I had spotted this location, a magnificent mansion spanning over 500 square meters, two years ago. Situated just a few minutes' walk from the Fondation Cloud Seven, established by the collector Frédéric de Goldschmidt, the building faces KANAL-Centre Pompidou, which will eventually attract a large number of Belgian and international visitors.The idea of being in a place "in the making" and actively contributing to its growth appeals to me more than simply setting up among other French galleries already established in Brussels. The challenge we have taken on is greater and aligns better with my identity and aspirations.” - says Christophe Gaillard about his choice to settle in Brussels.

Brussels Gallery Weekend is also delighted to welcome KIN, the newly opened gallery who’s founder Nicolaus Schafhausen explains the idea behind his project in following words:

“We are living through a period of great change and new possibilities. A time that is fragile and that demands from art and artists a repositioning. At the same time our museums, galleries, artist-run spaces, institutions and media partners are undergoing tectonic shifts. Brussels and Belgium are spaces of complex and diverse modes of creation, but are also compact and small enough to positively shape, in my opinion, these shifts for a new, fruitful coexistence between art, galleries and public institutions. Brussels and its art venues have never rested on their laurels. Change has always been dynamic, coupled with a deep understanding of possible futures, and a genuine understanding of their past. Finding a place on this moving platform is certainly not an easy task for artists, but it remains a very exciting one. It is about nothing less than claiming a future civil society in which everyone can, and should, participate.”




Other galleries that BGW will welcome in the 2023 program are:

EDJI Gallery which is dedicated to seeking out the most exciting diverse art talents from the ultra-contemporary art scene and putting it center stage with exhibitions in Brussels;

Esther Verhaeghe - art concepts with a special focus on contemporary women artists, and Frédérick Mouraux Gallery, which functions as a platform for the promotion of progressive, engaged, and innovative artists.

Immersion in BGW 2023's program thanks to Guided Tours and newly made Curated Routes

Whether you are a lifelong resident of Brussels or you plan to enjoy the city's atmosphere for a few days, during Brussels Gallery Weekend, you will have more than one reason to be surprised. The iconic BGW map will accompany you this year, and alongside it, guided tours will allow you to delve into the galleries by neighborhoods. During these 2-hour tours, BGW guides will take you on a discovery of Downtown, Sablon, Ixelles, Chatelain & Saint Gilles districts.

Additionally, this year, you will be able to download one of the 12 curated routes to immerse yourself further in the mediums or topics that interest you the most or that you wish to explore. These routes will guide you not only through galleries but also spaces of the OFF program and through exhibitions at the BGW Meeting Point.

For example, the "Belgian Route" offers a comprehensive overview of Belgium-based artists, featuring the highly-anticipated new exhibition of Thierry De Cordier at Xavier Hufkens, cutting-edge video-sculptures by Emmanuel Van der Auwera at Harlan Levy Projects, works from the New Belgian Generation artists at the Belgian Gallery, or poetic research based on physical phenomena with Edith Dekyndt at Greta Meert and Adrien Lucca at LMNO among others.

Visitors following the “Unusual materials Route” will be fascinated by Lauren Seiden's graphite-paper artworks at NOSCO Gallery or the captivating exhibition of Yuji Agematsu at Gladstone Gallery.

For those interested in "Video Art and New Media," the not-to-be-missed stops will include Lili Dujourie at Jan Mot, Lynn Hershman Leeson at Waldburger Wouters, as well as institutions in the off program such as Wiels featuring Francis Alÿs, La Loge with Elsa Brès' exhibition, and Argos with Aay Liparato.

Moreover, young talent exhibitions like Leonardo Guglielmi at EDJI gallery, Shaina McCoy at Stems Gallery, and Generation Brussels at D’Ieteren promise to be highlights of the “Start to Collect Route”.

Whether you prefer the ambiance of sharing and dialogue through guided tours or prefer to discover at your own pace, or perhaps a combination of both, BGW has activities tailored to your preferences.

Little Art Guide - specially designed itinerary with games and explanations to engage children with exhibitions and artists will be available at the Meeting point of BGW (in French and Dutch). Kids workshops during the weekend and family guided tours of the Generation Brussels exhibition will also be part of the program.