Jean Brusselmans — Ode aan het heldhaftige bestaan van de kunstenaar

Gallery Sofie Van de Velde presents a tribute to Jean Brusselmans (1884–1953), opening on 17 October 2026 in Antwerp.

This exhibition is born from a profound admiration for Brusselmans’ oeuvre and from the conviction that his artistic legacy remains a powerful source of inspiration for artists today. Over the past years, we have had the opportunity to study important private collections and to contribute to the placement of several works by Brusselmans in significant collections. These experiences have reinforced our desire to present his work from a contemporary perspective.

In the autumn of 2026, Bozar will dedicate a major exhibition to Jean Brusselmans. From the perspective of a contemporary gallery, Gallery Sofie Van de Velde aims to offer an additional and complementary approach: not a retrospective, but a tribute that highlights the continued relevance of Brusselmans’ artistic vision and the enduring impact of his work.

The exhibition carries the title Ode aan het heldhaftige bestaan van de kunstenaar (Ode to the heroic existence of the artist). During his lifetime, Brusselmans received only limited recognition, yet he remained unwavering in his artistic pursuit. His disciplined approach to colour, composition and structure resulted in a highly personal visual language that occupies a unique position within Belgian modernism.

This exhibition celebrates the dedication of an artist who followed his own path with complete conviction and whose work continues to resonate with later generations of artists. For this occasion, Adriaan Gonnissen (curator at KMSKA) will write a new essay accompanying the exhibition.

The exhibition will bring together works from important private collections, complemented by selected institutional loans, offering a renewed perspective on one of Belgium’s most distinctive modern painters.

As part of our preparations for the exhibition, Gallery Sofie Van de Velde is currently seeking works by Jean Brusselmans for consignment. We would be particularly interested in hearing from private collectors, and other owners who may wish to lend or consign works for this occasion. We would be pleased to discuss individual works and their potential inclusion in the exhibition.