Vanhaerents Art Collection

The Vanhaerents Art Collection is a unique and comprehensive collection of contemporary art, assembled by Walter Vanhaerents and his children Els and Joost. It is characterised by the individual approach to collecting of its founders, as well as their shared passion for new and provocative art.

The origins of the Vanhaerents Art Collection date back to the 1970s, when the young Walter Vanhaerents started collecting his first works of art. Gathering pieces that were considered extremely fierce and radical at the time, he laid the groundwork for a collection that today ranks among the most prestigious in the world.

The collection thoroughly reflects the diversity and vitality of current art practices. Both established and emerging artists are represented in the collection, with works in a variety of media including painting, drawing, sculpture, installation art, photography and video.

VIEWING DEPOT EXH#02 & SPOTLIGHT

On the occasion of its ten-year anniversary, the Vanhaerents Art Collection has decided to radically alter the ways in which it presents its collection to the public. Experimenting with innovative ways of connecting the presentation and daily management of works of art, it has opted for the format of a viewing depot in which aesthetics and functionality are naturally intertwined.

In the viewing depot, which extends over an area of more than 3,500 m², visitors can take a look behind the scenes and discover the extensive collection of contemporary art that the Vanhaerents family has built up over almost four decades.

The past year was not only marked by corona and lockdowns, but also by the worldwide Black Lives Matter protests. This period of political and social turmoil has strongly affected the choices for the new presentation.

The new exhibition ‘VIEWING DEPOT EXH#02′ turns the spotlight on iconic works by celebrated international artists, including Rudolf Stingel, Lorna Simpson, Jason Rhoades and Bruce Nauman. Young, emerging artists – whose work has so far only rarely been shown in Belgium – are also well represented, including Korakrit Arunanondchai and Anne Imhof.

In the cabinets and throughout the main exhibition, ‘SPOTLIGHT’ emphasises on recent acquisitions of works by African and African American artists including Derek Fordjour, Titus Kaphar, Gerald Lovell and Vaughn Spann. How did they experience this period and how has it affected their work?

The Vanhaerents Art Collection is housed in a three-storey industrial building from 1926, located between the Grand-Place/Grote Markt and the canal. The former sanitary warehouse, with a total area of 3,500 square metres, was repurposed into a loft-like exhibition, storage and office space by the leading Belgian architectural firm Robbrecht & Daem.

Practical information

Vanhaerents Art Collection – rue Anneessensstraat 29 – 1000 Brussels

Group: max. 20 pers (max. 5 groups simultaneously)

Duration: 1h30

Price entrance fee + guided tour :

• 350€
• Primary and secondary education: 235€ (during office hours)

When :

• Tuesday to Friday
• Certain Saturdays (on request)

Reservation: info@korei.be