The original Belgian art fair returns to the capital for its 35th edition in April. In 2017, Art Brussels brings together 144 galleries from 28 countries in three main sections: Prime, Discovery and Rediscovery. In addition, the fair’s International and Discovery Committees have selected 34 newcomers for the upcoming programme. Joining the Committees this year are two new members, each with a curatorial background: Tania Doropoulos, Artistic Director at Timothy Taylor in London and New York; and Eva Birkenstock, Director of the Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen, Düsseldorf.
For this edition, Prime will comprise 108 established galleries representing internationally known, mid-career artists. Newcomers to the section include Gallery Baton (Seoul), Pearl Lam Galleries (Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore) ProyectosMonclova (Mexico City) and Skopia Art Contemporain (Genève). These will exhibit alongside returning galleries Bernier/Eliades (Athens), Galleria Continua (San Gimignano, Beijing, Les Moulins and Havana), Galerie Lelong (Paris, New York), New Art Centre (Salisbury), Tina Kim (New York) and more.
In the Discovery section, 30 galleries will show recent work created by emerging artists who are relatively unknown, including Babak Golkar (Edel Assanti, London); Erika Hock (Cosar HMT, Düsseldorf); Masimba Hwati (SMAC Gallery, Stellenbosch, Cape Town and Johannesburg); Stanislas Lahaut (Dauwens & Beernaert Gallery, Brussels); Annaïk Lou Pitteloud (Barbara Seiler, Zürich); Jana Schröder (MIER Gallery, Los Angeles); Monika Stricker (Clages, Köln); and Emmanuel Van der Auwera (Harlan Levey Projects Gallery, Brussels).
The eagerly-awaited Rediscovery boasts an important selection of artists from nine galleries. Each creative represented hails from the avant-garde period between 1917 and 1987, and has previously been overlooked or unduly forgotten. Artists such as Alfred Basbous (Sophia Contemporary Gallery, London); Jean Messagier (Bernard Ceysson, Luxembourg, Paris, Genève, St-Etienne); Ryuji Tanaka (Axel Vervoordt Gallery, Antwerp, Hong Kong); Raoul Ubac & Reinhoud d’Haese (Laurentin Gallery, Brussels, Paris); and Léon Wuidar (Rodolphe Janssen, Brussels) will reenter the spotlight this spring.
Complementing the programme is Art Brussels’ continued emphasis on the individual presentation of artists, with 15 galleries presenting a single artist in the Solo section. Exhibitors include Xavier Hufkens (Brussels) with David Altmejd; Galerie Daniel Templon (Brussels, Paris) with Omar Ba; Meessen De Clercq (Brussels) with Benoît Maire; Ron Mandos (Amsterdam) with Mohau Modisakeng; Galerie Nathalie Obadia (Brussels – Paris) with Laure Prouvost; and Sorry We’re Closed (Brussels) with Josh Sperling.
Art Brussels has also announced a collaboration with internationally renowned exhibition maker Jens Hoffmann and curator and critic Piper Marshall for the flagship exhibition situated within the fair. Mementos: Artists’ Souvenirs, Artefacts, and other Curiosities brings together personal objects and artefacts from the private collections of a diverse group of artists, all of whom are represented by galleries participating in Art Brussels. The fair also welcomes Belfius Wealth Management as its main partner in 2017.
Art Brussels 2017, 21 April – 23 April. Preview & Vernissage: 20 April, Tour & Taxis, Avenue du Port 86C, 1000, Brussels.
For more information, visit www.artbrussels.com.
For the latest news in contemporary art and culture, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Credits
1. Eric van Hove, Mahjouba I, 2016,200 x 70 x 113 cm. Copyright: Alessio Mei. Courtesy of Copperfield / Division of Labour, Discovery section. Art Brussels 2017, Tour & Taxis, Brussels, 21 – 23 April 2017.
