Art Brussels 2016 a Success!

Galleries and collectors alike reported success at Art Brussels this past weekend, which saw robust sales over the course of three days. Indeed the buzz around the event started at the 2015 edition, when the organization announced that this year’s 34th edition would be the occasion for moving from its longtime home at Brussels Expo to Tour & Taxis, which hosted 141 exhibitors from 28 countries and over 25,000 visitors from Friday, 22 April, to Sunday, 24 April.

Amidst the international atmosphere, Brussels-based galleries such as Jablonka Maruani Mercier, Meessen de Clercq, Sorry We’re Closed, Galerie Greta Meert, Rodolphe Janssen, and Xavier Hufkens made a strong showing in the “Prime” section, one of the three main sections. The “Discovery” section, focused on recent works from young and emerging artists, was immediately inside the entrance. Meanwhile, the new “Rediscovery” section focused on work from 1917 to 1987, by underappreciated artists; like the self-explanatory “Solo” presentations, these exhibitions were interspersed throughout, often (but not always) part of a gallery’s larger booth.

Visitors took a similarly diverse profile, from museum curators and directors to public officials to performance artists, but of course it was savvy collectors who ultimately ensured the success of the show. Northern Europe was expectedly represented among both the exhibitors and the attendees, but Art Brussels also attracted a strong international contingent, hailing from the likes of the United States, Turkey, and even Australia.

“The fair excelled in both attendance and sales, confirming its position as one of Europe’s leading contemporary art fairs,” noted Anne Vierstraete, Managing Director of Art Brussels, in the post-event report. “Our visitors unanimously praised moving to our new venue; the natural light enhanced the experience of viewing art, and created a distinct atmosphere.” Indeed, Art Brussels will return to Tour & Taxis for its 35th edition next year, from 21–23 April 2017.