April 23–26, 2020
The 38th edition of the fair will take place from Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26 2020, with Preview and Vernissage on Thursday, April 23, in the Tour & Taxis landmark building located in the center of Brussels.
Maintaining its profile “From Discovery to Rediscovery,” Art Brussels is unanimously praised for its balance of established and emerging artists. 95% of the artists represented are living artists. The fair is perceived as human-size scaled, favouring quality above quantity with a soft spot for a curatorial approach and solo presentations. The element of surprise is inherent to Art Brussels and expected by its collectors. The fair gathers around 150 galleries and features 3 sections:
Discovery
Galleries that actively support emerging international artists presenting booths with a one man show or an interesting dialogue between two artists that are not yet known within the European context, and whose practice constitutes a real “discovery.” The works are produced between 2017 and 2020.
Prime
Contemporary or modern galleries presenting established and mid-career artists on an international level. The fair encourages galleries with a curatorial project that is visually engaging.
Rediscovery
Dedicated to art from the 20th century, by living or deceased artists who are underrecognized, underestimated or forgotten. The gallery project aims to excavate and highlight surprising, unknown and original practices that have not yet broken into the historical mainstream.
Galleries in Prime & Rediscovery can also combine with a stand in Solo. For eligibility in the Solo section, galleries are required to develop a project-based presentation by one living artist, offering a more in-depth consideration of an artist’s practice. The presentations should be of a more ambitious or adventurous nature (site specific works are encouraged).
Each year, Art Brussels awards the best Discovery booth and the best SOLO artist at the fair. Information about prizes, jury members and previous winners are available on the Art Brussels’ website.
Besides the large attendance from international collectors, Art Brussels relies on Belgium’s highest number of collectors per capita in the world, without losing focus on also attracting the young and upcoming generation.
Art Brussels is also pleased to announce its collaboration with “A Performance Affair” for the upcoming edition of the fair, enhancing a unique live experience of performance art at the fair. The selected galleries are eligible to participate in this dynamic platform.
During Art Brussels, a rich OFF programme will be presented with many interesting exhibitions to discover both inside and outside Brussels, including Wolfgang Tillmans at Wiels and Ai Weiwei at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
Galleries in Prime, Rediscovery, and the Solo presentations are selected by the International Committee composed by Loïc Bénétière, Ceysson Bénétière (Luxemburg, Paris, Saint-Etienne, New York), Michael Callies, dépendance (Brussels), Simon Devolder, Xavier Hufkens (Brussels), Carolyn Drake Kandiyoti, Mendes Wood DM (Sao Paulo, Brussels, New York), Benedicte Goesaert, Zeno X (Antwerp), Rodolphe Janssen, rodolphe janssen (Brussels).
The brand-new Discovery Committee comprises Iwona Blazwick, Director Whitechapel (London), Michael Callies, dépendance (Brussels), Laurence Dujardyn, C L E A R I N G (Brussels, New York) and Isabella Ritter, LambdaLambdaLambda (Prishtina) & partner of La Maison de Rendez-Vous (Brussels), and selects participating galleries in the Discovery section.
Please click here to apply for Art Brussels.
Art Brussels is delighted to announce that Nele Verhaeren, Head of Gallery Relations at the fair, has been appointed Co-director of Art Brussels, alongside Managing Director Anne Vierstraete.
For all queries regarding your application, please contact the Gallery Relations team.