Art Antwerp 2024: A Year-End Boutique Fair with 70 Invited European Galleries

Art Antwerp, the contemporary art fair organised by Art Brussels, returns to Antwerp Expo for its 4th edition from Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 December. 

Since its launch in 2021, Art Antwerp is characterised by a cheerful and convivial end-of-year atmosphere. This, together with the invitation-only nature of Art Antwerp for the participating galleries (which are selected by the Invitation Committee), makes Art Antwerp a true boutique fair.

For its fourth edition, Art Antwerp will host 70 galleries carefully selected by the Invitation Committee. 1 out of 5 participating galleries is based in Antwerp. ​ Almost half of the galleries come from from abroad; 21% from the Netherlands, 9% from France and 6% from the UK. All the participating galleries are from Europe, and represent 11 countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, and the UK. (See table below)
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​Art Antwerp brings together both established and emerging talent. While renowned artists are represented by galleries like Galerie Lelong & Co., KETELEER GALLERY, and Albert Baronian, it’s noteworthy that 30% of the featured artists are under 35, introducing fresh perspectives to the fair.

Additionally, while galleries have a carte blanche, we are pleased to announce that 31% of this year’s exhibitors have chosen to showcase solo or duo presentations, demonstrating their commitment to highlighting the body of work of specific artists. This is also an opportunity for visitors to discover the artist in depth, rather than just individual works.
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​A highlight of Art Antwerp includes large-scale installations displayed in the aisles, beyond the booths, by artists such as Aaron-Victor Peeters (Uitstalling), Bruno V. Roels (Gallery FIFTY ONE), Florian Tomballe (PLUS-ONE Gallery), Bert De Geyter (Settantotto Art Gallery, Ghent), and Willem Boel (BARBÉ, Ghent). These installations add a unique dimension to the boutique fair experience

To further emphasize each gallery’s project, Art Antwerp has invited Nina Hendrickx, former director of the renowned Antwerp gallery Zeno X, to act as curatorial copywriter. Her role is to highlight the content of each gallery stand through insightful descriptions written by her. These descriptions are available on the website of the fair under the galleries page and offer visitors a deeper understanding of each presentation.

ART ANTWERP
​4th Edition
​12-15 December 2024
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​ANTWERP EXPO ​
​Jan van Rijswijcklaan 191
​2020 Antwerp

Some highlights of the fair (texts by Nina Hendrickx)
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Albert Baronian (Brussels), legendary gallerist presents its show at his last art fair participation

Albert Baronian has been invited by Art Antwerp to present his very last booth at an art fair, as Baronian Gallery will permanently close at the end of 2024. Since he opened his gallery in 1973 - more than five decades ago - Baronian has been a key player in the local and international gallery scene. In June this year, he received the FEAGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Basel. As a former president of the Brussels Gallery Association, he played an important role not only in the Art Brussels fair, but also in the launch of Easyfairs, the organising company behind Art Brussels and Art Antwerp. At Art Antwerp he will present work by four female artists from his programme: Leen Voet, Tessa Perutz, Charlotte Vander Borght and Toufan Hosseiny. Additionally he will show work by Mekhitar Garabedian, an artist who deals with topics such as migration and diaspora. Like Garabedian’s grandfather, Albert Baronian’s father arrived in Aleppo, Syria, when fleeing from the Armenian Genocide. He later migrated to Antwerp where he met and married his wife in 1932. Because of the heavy bombing during WWII the family moved once more, this time to Brussels, where Albert Baronian was born. Mekhitar Garabedian currently resides in the city where the art fair takes place - creating a full circle which is symbolized in this booth presentation. 

De Zwarte Panter (Antwerp): three solo presentations by Fred Bervoets, Jan Decleir and Marc Kennes

De Zwarte Panter proposes a booth concept with three solo presentations, just like the previous three editions. Traditionally, the first part will focus on Fred Bervoets, whose work was recently on view at the Busan Biennial in South Korea. Working with De Zwarte Panter from its inception, he is a well-established painter, depicting his world in a highly expressive style. The choice of Jan Decleir, who will fill the second one-man presentation, can be contextualised within his recent solo exhibition at the gallery. Decleir has worked as a visual artist with the gallery since the 2000s. In 2005 he exhibited at De Zwarte Panter together with Hugo Claus and Fred Bervoets. Marc Kennes will be the third artist at the booth. His freedom of painting is expressed in unconstrained strokes and bright colours with which he depicts his inner world of feelings. In recent years, his work has been characterised by some very remarkable seascapes. Each painting is a painful glimpse into the past but also opens a window towards the future. ​ 

At Gallery FIFTY ONE (Antwerp), Bruno V. Roels transforms the booth into a waiting room for paradise

Gallery FIFTY ONE will present a solo booth by Bruno V. Roels, entitled “The Lounge”. This solo presentation will immerse the visitors of the fair in the artist's vision and the central themes that inspire him. At the heart of Roels’ work is the palm tree—a symbol that evokes paradise, nostalgia, and the longing for an idealized escape. Through his unique approach, Roels captures the beauty and timelessness of this iconic motif, exploring its layered meanings and inviting reflection on the nature of utopia. “The Lounge” will transform the booth into a metaphorical waiting room for paradise—much like an airport lounge before departure or the serene lobby of an elegant hotel. Visitors will be invited to pause, reflect, and immerse themselves in a contemplative space that captures the essence of transition and anticipation, just as one might await entry into an imagined paradise. In addition to photography, the exhibition will showcase ceramics, limited editions, and collaborative works—offering a comprehensive view of Roels’ diverse artistic practice.

Martins&Montero (Brussels): Lia D Castro reflects on gender and race hierarchies, art history and transphobia

For Art Antwerp, Martins&Montero proposes a solo exhibition by Brazilian artist Lia D Castro. The artist reflects on gender and race hierarchies, art history and transphobia. The paintings are a powerful call to action, emphasising the importance of representation and inclusivity. Besides her artistic practices, Lia D Castro has worked as sex worker, educator, transgender rights activist and gives anti-racism and anti-transphobia lectures at art institutions. The artist will produce new paintings from two on-going series. “To our Children”; portraits with her lovers and clients, with whom she establishes a relationship of intimacy and commitment. She invites us to enter the scenes, which in no way reflect the social stigma that sex workers carry. “Crossing the Rubicon”; a series of still-life flowers and a self-portrait. The size of the paintings represents the lifespan of a trans individual in Brazil. The colour contrasts serve as a mirror for the physical and mental transformation that accompanies hormone therapy. The works are a poignant reminder that even in the face of adversity, life can be beautiful and worth celebrating. 

Maurice Verbaet Gallery (Knokke – Antwerp) stand presentation 'Masters of Antwerp' offers a glimpse into the recent past and present of Antwerp's vibrant art scene.

Maurice Verbaet Gallery will present “Masters of Antwerp”, a booth divided into two distinct sections, offering visitors a glimpse into both the recent past and the present of Antwerp's vibrant art scene. The show will feature works from renowned artists who made their mark during the second half of the 20th century. The booth will also put a spotlight on a young contemporary talent, Micha Baudenelle (b. 972). Growing up in the lively streets of ‘t Kiel neighbourhood in Antwerp, the artist discovered at an early age his passion for art as a means to explore his inner world. His subjects are as diverse as his sources of inspiration, ranging from philosophy and religion to everyday scenes and ethical questions. But beneath the humour that permeates his work, there is a deeper reflection on the atrocities of humanity. With his unique perspective and unlimited creativity, Micha Baudenelle is an artist who invites the viewer to be amazed by the complexity of life.

Richard Saltoun (London, New York, Rome): A solo by Ria Verhaeghe gives new value to newspaper images and photographs of death and tragedy

Richard Saltoun Gallery will present a solo exhibition of Ria Verhaeghe (b. 1950, BE). Her oeuvre spans across painting, sculpture, drawing, collage and video. Verhaeghe aspires to give new value to images and photographs of death and tragedy found in newspapers, that are usually quickly discarded and forgotten. For the last thirty years, the artist has been assembling an image database called 'Provisoria', in which approximately 60.000 images are ordered according to a personal bookkeeping system of keywords, colours, dates and groups. At Art Antwerp, the gallery will exhibit a selection of works from key series of the artist. 'Verticals' are small oil paintings on wood, layered with gold leaf, with dancing and falling bodies in bright colours. The 'Pantarhei-Spiegelrei' series, inspired by Heraclitus' quote, captures the ever-changing flow of water and the reflection of light. '40.000' is an ongoing series which commemorates the 40,000 children who die every day due to insufficient food, medical care, war, etc. ​ 

Full list of participating galleries & artists

Novelties
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Best Booth Prize

One of the exciting novelties this year is the Best Booth Prize: a new prize Art Antwerp is launching to reward the gallery that brings the most cohesive and convincing artistic vision and presentation. The key evaluation criteria include the artistic value of the booth project, as well as diversity, inclusion, and relevance. A professional jury will nominate the winning gallery, who will receive a prize of €2,500, which will be awarded during the opening day of the fair on Thursday.

The jury members of the Best Booth Prize are Elisa De Wyngaert (Curator at MoMu – Fashion Museum Antwerp), Joseph Kouli (French collector), Charlotte Martens (Senior Curator at Kunsthal Rotterdam) and Maurice Funken (Director of NAK – Neuer Aachener Kunstverein in Aachen - Germany). ​

ESG (Environmental, social and governance)

Art Antwerp is proud to be a member of the Gallery Climate Coalition (GCC), furthering their commitment to sustainability in the art industry. The organising company, Easyfairs Group, has prioritised sustainability since 2021, under the leadership of a dedicated Chief Sustainability Officer. Sustainability performance is tracked at each Easyfairs event using a ‘scorecard,’ which measures environmental and social impact. This system enables the fair to compare events and venues, adopt best practices, and continually reduce the carbon footprint while enhancing social contributions. It also raises awareness within the company on managing fairs in alignment with ESG principles. Through the membership with the G.C.C., both Art Brussels and Art Antwerp are aligned with this mission, focusing on advancing sustainability in the art world. ​ ​ 

Specific actions applied at Art Antwerp 2024: reusable wall partitions, decrease of paper printed invitations, strict waste management, responsible food sourcing with limited packing material, water bottles & fountains, led lights, green energy of the venue, supporting GoForest. 

OFF PROGRAMME

This year, Art Antwerp renews again its partnership with Antwerp’s top cultural institutions to present an OFF Programme that spans the city’s vibrant cultural landscape. Highlights include the Cindy Sherman exhibition at FOMU – Fotomuseum Antwerpen, “Ensors stoutste dromen. Het impressionisme voorbij” at the Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen (KMSKA), and “Masquerade, Make-up & Ensor” at MoMu – ModeMuseum Antwerpen. Visitors can discover our curated selection of must-see exhibitions taking place across Antwerp during Art Antwerp on their OFF Programme page. 

PARTNERS

Main Partners for Art Antwerp & Art Brussels 

Delen Private Bank & Bank Van Breda 

 The activities of sister companies Delen Private Bank and Bank Van Breda complement each other perfectly. Delen Private Bank focuses on wealth management and wealth planning, while Bank Van Breda is a bank of choice for entrepreneurs and professionals, both privately and professionally. 

Other Partners 

Art Shippers is a leading fine art logistics partner delivering all possible services in the fine art world. 

Taschen is a leading publishing house known for its exquisite collaborations with the world’s most influential artists, photographers, architects, designers and cultural icons. 

The Belgian brewery Duvel Moortgat has a special interest in contemporary art, design and architecture and works in partnership with museums and institutions as S.M.A.K. and WIELS, and international events such as La Biennale di Venezia.

iPass ID ​ 

Art Antwerp works with iPass ID to preserve the reputation of the art market and enhance trust and transparency, without burdening administrative procedures for participants, including international art fairs, galleries and collectors.

The app designed by iPass ID is an all-in-one solution to comply with legal obligations regarding anti-money laundering and KYC “Know your customer” and is accessible to all players in the art industry.

Some images

Download all images here

Anton-Alvarez, 0901231656, 2024-credit-Jussi-Tiainen-Helsinki-ContemporaryAaron-Victor Peeters, The love-seat, mixed media and video installation, 2021- Courtesy of Uitstalling Gallery

Felix De Clercq-Apples, can of Coke and Knife-2023-Courtesy of Gallery Sofie Van de Velde, Sharing Art

József Csató, One second of peace of mind, 2024 - Courtesy of PLUS ONE GalleryJudith GrasslArrange(still life),2024-Courtesy Claire Gastaud

Gideon Kiefer, One for the Road, 2024-Courtesy of Galerie Martin KudlekAnaSilva, Fardos 001, 2023-Courtesy of MAGNIN-A

Marijn van Kreij, Untitled (Philip Guston, Picasso, Kumagai Morikazu), 2023, courtesy andreiesse-eyckShiraz-Bayjoo,Woman-by-the-window,2021-courtesy CopperfieldLondon

Luc Dondeyne, August, 2024 - Courtesy of galerie TRANSITJoseph Palframan, Misconception Deception Protection, 2023- Courtesy of Upstream Gallery

Fiona Lutjenhuis - courtesy of Galerie Fleur&WouterYoon-Shun, Waves-in-object, Courtesy-of-Gallery-Hioco-Delany