Cultural Compass: Last call to see standout exhibitions from Flanders and Brussels
With the New Year comes new cultural moments on the horizon, but there is still time to catch some of the extraordinary exhibitions that have defined the past season. From hidden histories and modernist rediscoveries to powerful contemporary voices in fashion, art and craft, make sure to catch these events before they close.
Luz y Sombra: Goya and Spanish Realism at BOZAR, Brussels, until 11 January
Luz y Sombra at BOZAR casts a focused light on Francisco Goya and the Spanish realist tradition, revealing the dramatic interplay of light and dark that defined Goya’s artistic vision and influenced generations. The exhibition underscores his masterful ability to capture both social truths and human psychology.
Eugeen Van Mieghem: City in Motion at KMSKA, Antwerp, until 11 January
At Antwerp’s KMSKA, Eugeen Van Mieghem’s pastels and drawings bring the early 20th-century city to life, capturing its frenetic street scenes, the port’s hustle, and the pulse of daily life with an unfiltered, reportage-style eye. The works underscore his unique ability to depict movement and humanity in equal measure.
Donas, Archipenko & La Section d’Or: Enchanting Modernism at KMSKA, Antwerp, until 11 January
This vibrant show places Belgian modernist Marthe Donas and Ukrainian sculptor Alexander Archipenko at the heart of the early avant-garde, alongside artists like Mondrian and Modigliani. It highlights Donas’ critical yet under-recognised contributions to modernism and the dynamic creativity of La Section d’Or network.
Women’s Business / Businesswomen at Museum Plantin-Moretus, Antwerp, until 11 January
This exhibition surfaces three centuries of female agency within the historic printing house, revealing daughters, workers and leaders whose stories have long been in the background. Archival documents and personal narratives reshape the familiar tale of this Antwerp household and business.
Jacob Van Reesbroeck, Portrait of Anna Goos (1659) © PHOTO MUSEUM PLANTIN-MORETUS
Beauty & Resistance at St Peters Abbey, Ghent, until 18 January
At the historic St Peters Abbey in Ghent, Beauty & Resistance explores how aesthetics and defiance intersect across time and cultures, reframing beauty as a tool of resilience and identity. The show brings together works that challenge traditional notions of both beauty and power, an evocative meditation on art’s role in resistance.
Jean Rustin at Museum De Reede, Antwerp, until 26 January
The Museum De Reede presents Jean Rustin’s powerful figurative works, where the human body becomes a vessel for emotion, memory and existential tension. Rustin’s sober palette and intense focus on psychological presence offer a striking, introspective experience.
John Baldessari: Parables, Fables, and Other Tall Tales at BOZAR, Brussels until 1 February
This first major European retrospective of John Baldessari’s work since his passing presents the Los Angeles-born artist’s witty, image-rich storytelling through paintings, collages and text works. Known for bending the boundaries of conceptual art with humour and cultural critique, Baldessari’s narrative experiments remain as provocative as ever.
GIRLS. On Boredom, Rebellion and Being In-Between at MoMu, Antwerp, until 1 February
MoMu’s GIRLS reframes girlhood through fashion, visual art, film and design, dismantling cliched portrayals of youth to highlight its emotional depth, complexity and cultural resonance. Interdisciplinary and inclusive, the exhibition asks what “being a girl” has meant, and continues to mean, across time and identities.
Ongoing events
Antwerp
Early Gaze: Unseen Photography From the 19th Century
Danial Shah: Becoming, Belonging and Vanishing
Magritte: La ligne de vie
Brussels
Brussels, la Congolaise
Loisirs-Plezier: Brussels 1920-1940
MAURICE: Tristesse et rigolade
Fire
Ghent
Fairground Wonders
Marc De Blieck: Point de voir
(Un)Shame
Monique Gies - Inside Views
Hasselt
Rococo Reboot
Michael Beutler
(MOH)
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE
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