The best exhibitions in Belgium this summer

From photo retrospectives and fashion, to immersive experiences for all the family, cities around the country are packed with dazzling art, history and culture shows.

BRUSSELS

“The best photos are the ones I have not yet taken,” said Paris-born American Elliott Erwitt, who died in 2023. A major retrospective (main image) with more than 215 photos, mostly in his preferred black-and-white format aims to stir some kind of emotion, especially humour, and enable people to “see serious issues in a non-serious way”. Erwitt’s extensive oeuvre features intimate family memories, photojournalism, architecture, street photos and publicity, plus a focus on beaches, cities, women, abstraction, museum watching and dogs. A prolific film maker, Erwitt also snapped celebrities including the Kennedys, Marilyn Monroe, Charles de Gaulle and Barack Obama. Until 5 January, Grand Place 5

Happy 25th birthday Magritte House! The beautiful home of René Magritte and his adored wife Georgette first opened its doors as a museum in 1999, showing his living quarters on the ground floor and several of his works and advertising posters upstairs. The museum is celebrating with consecutive exhibitions on Magritte’s friendships. The first is with Jane Graverol (1905-1984), who met Magritte in his rue Esseghem studio and remained friends ever since. Fifteen of her surrealist works she considered “waking, conscious dreams” including ‘La Mauvaise Etoile’ and its eery tiger (pictured) are displayed in this charming house. Reservation necessary for weekend visits. Until 20 October, Magritte House, Rue Esseghem 135 (Jette)

WIELS contemporary art centre is showing performance art and fascinating glass installations (pictured) from Dutch/American artist Alexis Blake plus films and theatrical creations from Belgium’s Joseph Kusendila. This wonderful former brewery with beautiful rooftop views also has paintings of Germany’s Jane Euler, displaying a fantasy, Europe-based world. Until 11 August (Blake and Kusendila); until 29 September (Jana Euler), Avenue Van Volxem 354 (Forest)

Even daily fashionistas know when to pull out all the stops and that’s when they go clubbing. It’s a place to see and be seen, but there is an extra dimension … can you dance in it? Beauty and function combine at Fashion Moves, an exhibition devoted to the multifaceted relationship between fashion and dance. Its focus is on how dance productions have influenced how and what we wear – and vice versa. Free entrance. Until 31 August, MAD Brussels, Place du Nouveau Marché aux Grains 10

Strip creators and graphic novelists have long been inspired by jazz, from its legendary figures and smoke-filled clubs to its place in music history. Jazz & Comics shows visitors just how much work has been concentrated on the subject, including Brussels artists Jean Bourguignon and Sisca Locca. But especially Louis Joos – also a musician – who has made a career of his trademark black & white illustrations and biographies of masters such as John Coltrane and Charles Mingus. Until 8 September, Comics Art Museum, Rue des Sables 20

Going back to the basics of art, Villa Empain’s Beyond the Lines. Drawing in space celebrates the ancestral technique that remains essential for artists, craftsmen and architects today. Curated by director Louma Salamé and staged in the project space, it features a variety of works by artists who have been in residence at the Boghossian Foundation. Until 3 November, Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 50 (Ixelles)

Portuguese artist Alexandre Farto, aka Vhils, grew up in a Lisbon still affected by 1974’s anti-right Carnation Revolution. MIMA’s exhibition Multitude, Carving Memories in the Digital Age, as well as a new mural in Brussels, celebrate the freedom and resilience that the struggle brought to the Portuguese capital. His art features billboards, videos and installations showing our relationship with cities. Until 5 January, Quai du Hainaut 39-41 (Molenbeek), mural, Rue Leopold 25

Jean Boghossian, a Belgian artist of Armenian and Lebanese descent, is already iconic in Brussels as the co-founder of the beautiful Villa Empain foundation and museum. Renowned for working with fire, Abstract Writings, Abstract Thoughts at Wittockiana bookbinding museum reveals his unseen writings on art. They provide both a companion to his artistic journey and a commentary on life and the world. Believing ‘positive’ destruction creates construction, Boghossian’s books may be damaged, his burnt book sculptures are also on show here, but they still invite us to look inside, with the message that books have meaning, even in our digital age. Until 15 September, Wittockiana, Rue du Bemel 23 (Woluwe-Saint-Pierre)

It is hard not to feel sorry for Stanislas Jasinski (1901-1978) – the Belgian architect and writer with big dreams and gargantuan projects, which, apart from Deurne airport near Antwerp and Bordet hospital, were never realised. He wanted to radically modernise Brussels, “the city with a rotten core”. The Modernisation of Brussels at CIVA showcases Jasinski’s controversial work, including plans for a Royal Library, luxury tower on Avenue Louise, Mundaneum and Palace of the Academies, alongside international projects inspired by Le Corbusier, Marcel Breuer and Oscar Niemeyer. Until 13 October, Rue de l’Ermitage 55 (Ixelles)

Olivetti was an early producer of typewriters and computers and – being Italian – was well known for its attention to design. The company was also dedicated to the social and cultural development of its workers, believing this led to a more satisfied and hence productive and loyal workforce. All of this suited Brussels artist, illustrator and sculptor Jean-Michel Folon, who collaborated with the company for 30 years and is the subject of a year-long tribute, 90 years after his birth. It was in fact Olivetti that printed Folon’s very first posters. See them at the exhibition Olivetti-Folon in the Design Museum at the Atomium. Until 15 September, Place de Belgique

How do artists from the ‘art brut’ movement talk about money? How is it present in their works and in what forms? This is the question explored in CA$H – an exhibition at Arts et marges Museum where you can even make your own! Works from Belgian and French collections range from ‘paradise’ bank notes to Monopoly paintings, in black, white or glorious technicolour. The artists also talk ‘cash’ as in frankly, simply and humorously. Until 29 September, Rue Haute 314

What does war have to do with the arts? You might think very little, but consider how much art is looted, the techniques used to create propaganda and the innumerable artworks that try to capture the bloodshed of battle. Bellum et Artes at the House of European History examines these connections by examining the Thirty Years’ War, one of Europe’s most devastating and deadly conflicts. Until 12 January, Rue Belliard 135

‘This is not an exhibition like the others,’ claims Magritte: The Immersive Experience, dedicated to Belgium’s surrealist master as part of the programme marking the 100th anniversary of the pioneering literary and art movement. Discover some 300 of Magritte’s works that have been transformed into digital and animated displays. They ae designed to offer an alternative retrospective of the artist's most famous and emblematic paintings as well as lesser-know aspects of his oeuvre. The exhibition includes special VR zones. From 29 March, Galerie Horta, Rue du Marché aux Herbes 116

Titanic The Artifact Exhibition is an immersive experience into the ill-fated ocean liner at Tour & Taxis. Offering a fresh look at the tragedy of the 1912 tragedy, the exhibition evokes the stories of the passengers and crew on board via more than 260 original objects recovered from the wreckage of the liner. From a night gown worn by a survivor on the night the liner sank, to elegant period tableware found in its first-class section, they are all poignant relics of the world's best-known shipwreck. Until 1 September, Avenue du Port 86C (Shed 3)

Harry Potter: Visions of Magic opens its doors to a world of wizardry in this immersive and interactive journey at Tour & Taxis. Once handed magic wands that cast spells via interactive screens, visitors can explore an array of mesmerising scenes recreating some of the best-known locations from the Fantastic Beasts films as well as the Harry Potter fantasy series. Until 3 November, Avenue du Port 86C

FLANDERS

The 8th edition of Triennial by the Sea Beaufort24 invites 18 new monumental artworks by Belgian and international artists to the Belgian coastline. Joining 42 permanent installations from previous editions, they create the most impressive and largest display of outdoor contemporary art in the country. Each artist and work has been carefully selected for each location, inland sites as well as seafront. Many can be viewed from the coastal tram that plies the region. Pictured: Gazing Ball – Reflective Dialogues by Lucy + Jorge Orta (Middelkerke). Until 3 November, multiple locations along the Belgian coast

Ostend museum Mu.zee stages a last hurrah before closing for a three-year renovation. Full House features works by more than 80 Belgian artists from its collection. They date from the late 19th century to today and are grouped thematically, offering unique perspectives on generations of artists’ shared preoccupations. Compare, for instance, James Ensor’s seascapes, which worked to capture patterns of colour and light, to Ann Veronica Janssens’ industrially manufactured glass plates, which achieve a similar effect. Until 5 January, Romestraat 11, Ostend

Can we ever take the point of view of an animal? The exhibition The Lives of Animals in Antwerp’s contemporary art museum M HKA combines literature, philosophy and art to question conventional ideas about our furred, scaled and feathered friends. Don’t miss the immersive auditory room, where amplified sound introduces you to the laughter of rats and the inaudible frequencies of the Amazon rainforest. The museum also hosts family workshops this summer, and a rooftop terrace – home to Keith Haring’s only public artwork in Belgium. Until 22 September, Leuvenstraat 32, Antwerp

Dirk Braeckman’s photography is weird. Working with muted tones or simply black and white, he often leaves you guessing what you’re actually looking at – but trying to figure it out is actually quite fun. Antwerp’s photography museum gave the Belgian artist carte blanche to put his work in dialogue with part of their collection, and he of course chose the part called “functional” – made with no artistic intentions whatsoever. Until 19 January, FoMu, Waalsekaai 47, Antwerp

The Bruges Triennial gives the beautiful city even more inspiring architectural and artistic sights. One of the nice things about this year’s theme – Spaces of Possibility – is that it gets us off the beaten track of this much-travelled city and into lesser known streets, parks and squares. The 12 major installations are in public space and freely accessible. Until 1 September, across Bruges

Artists have always been inspired by the theme of eroticism, whether subtle and sensual or explicit and wild. Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Ursel Castle features illustrations from the famous 1782 epistolary novel of the same name, as well as erotic objects and paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries. It mixes these among contemporary works with dozens of international artists giving us their take on this age-old theme – in photography, video, painting and sculpture. Until 13 October, Ursel Castle, Wolfgang d’Urselstraat 9, Hingene (Bornem)

City museum M Leuven hosts major exhibitions this summer as well as an activity programme and a pop-up bar. Open M | Hidden in Plain Sight showcases works by 12 local artists who draw inspiration from their immediate environment. Collection M offers a selection of some 300 works from the museum’s rich collections, including masterpieces and lesser-known gems (pictured: detail of work by Tina Gillen). Meanwhile, the exhibition Alias (until 1 September) brings together the work of 80 international artists – some using aliases, some who created alter-egos and some who just suddenly disappeared from view. Until 27 October, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 28, Leuven

Gaasbeek Castle’s sumptuous collection is on show in Rebel Echoes: 800 Years of Stories with contemporary artists entering into dialogue with some of its works. Their choices take our minds to all kinds of places when it comes to comparing the past with the present. In what ways has the world changed for the better, or for the worse? What would we say to people living in the 17th century if we got the chance? What would they think of us? Until 3 November, Kasteelstraat 40, Lennik

Modern Western art carries a religious legacy, even if this isn’t its primary purpose. With that bold statement, Z33 in Hasselt presents Leaps of Faith, an exploration of the relationship between faith and contemporary art. While faith is a broader concept than religion, our relationships to the unknowable, to doubt and to conviction all address the same question – how do we navigate the uncertainties of life? Until 25 August, Bonnefantenstraat 1, Hasselt

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that is a bit like raison d’être. What makes life worth living? What are we searching for? Japanese artists with disabilities collaborated with mentally vulnerable artists in Belgium via the postal service, and the result is an exhibition at the Dr Guislain Museum of outsider art. All the artists offer a unique perspective on their ikigai, such as Itsuo Kobayashi, who keeps a complete record of all the food he eats (pictured), complete with list of ingredients, smell, taste and drawings. Until 8 September, Jozef Guislainstraat 43, Ghent

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Roger Raveel Museum – built by the late artist himself in 1999 – presents Roger Raveel: The Essence. The 800 pieces in the museum’s collection can never be shown all at once, so thematic exhibitions are held, and this one is just right to place the Belgian artist in the context of European modern art history, and especially post-expressionism. Each room highlights a group of works that reflect an essential moment in Raveel’s career, which spanned more than 60 years. Until 6 October, Gildestraat 2, Machelen-Zulte (East Flanders)

WALLONIA

Gathering some of the French sculptor's 200 masterpieces, including rarely-seen sculptures and drawings, Rodin. A modern Renaissance  at the Fine Arts Museum is a gold star show that features pertinent dialogues with contemporary Belgian artist Berlinde De Bruyckere and local Renaissance sculptor Jacques Du Broeuck. Some works are on public display in the Sainte-Waltrude Collegiate Church and the nearby city hall Mayeur garden, which temporarily welcomes Rodin’s most famous and stunning sculpture, The Burghers of Calais. Until 18 August, Fine Arts Museum (CAP), Rue Neuve, Mons

Mons Memorial Museum explores one of the abiding legends of World War One. Les Anges de Mons. Croyances et apparitions en 14-18 is a fascinating and in-depth portrayal of the supernatural phenomena that occurred when British troops retreated into France after the first bloody skirmish of the war. Soldiers spotted an odd cloud formation that appeared like an angel; they believed it protected them from the superior German forces. Via paintings, posters, objects and memorabilia, the exhibition examines the historic, social and scientific context of why angels sparked the imagination of the time, while also considering the links between religion, propaganda and war culture. Until May 2025, Boulevard Dolez 51, Mons

Le cercle des femmes peintres & Kiki Crèvecoeur celebrates the collective action and talent of a group of women painters at the end of the 19th century. Extremely active in the Belgian art world, they staged four exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art in Brussels. Now their creativity is again on show in at the Namur museum dedicated to the city’s 19th-century symbolist artist and caricaturist Félicien Rops. Adding a contemporary note are works by engraver Kiki Crèvecoeur. Until 8 September, Musée Félicien Rops, Rue Fumal 12, Namur

Stellar Scape staged by KIKK at Le Pavillon immerses visitors in the final frontier of outer space. While captivating the imagination, it is also a resource that is increasingly being exploited. Some 20 artworks and nine installations by Belgian and international artists and scientific researchers explore the challenges facing the space world. Among the artists is Lucien Bitaux, Fr, whose Nadir (pictured) is a silicon-focused machine that studies an artificial rock with imaging sensors. Until 26 January, Esplanade of the citadel, Route Merveilleuse 65, Namur

The hidden paradise that is the Domain of Mariemont hosts the first edition of pop-up contemporary art trail Marie’Art. Seven installations by Belgian and international artists discreetly enhance the once royal park and its existing collection of classical and modern sculpture. The varied but complementary works were inspired not only by the surrounding nature, but also the fabulous artefacts from China, Egypt and the Mediterranean housed in the modern museum that graces the site. Pick up maps of the trail in the reception. Free entrance. Until 22 September, Royal Domain of Mariemont, Chaussée de Morlanwelz 100, Morlanwelz (Hainaut)

Can design turn us into superheroes? That’s the bold premise of the new exhibition at the Center of Innovation and Design (CID) at Grand-Hornu. Superpower Design takes a timely look at the ethical role of the digital world in the cult of improving performance. After shaping the world around us, how are designers expected to respond in a society in pursuit of the super-human... The exhibition presents a diverse series of design works. Until 25 August, CID, Site du Grand-Hornu, Rue Sainte-Louise 82 (Hainaut)

For its inaugural show as a new cultural hub, Liège’s Saint-Pholien Church hosts Claude Monet: The Immersive Experience. While the once ecclesiastic site was notable for featuring in the novels of the city’s famed crime writer Georges Simenon, now it’s transformed into a digital art temple honouring the work of the leading French Impressionist artist. From 13 March, Rue St Pholien, Liège

La Boverie is showing a selection of 100 exceptional abstract works of art in Abstrait. Highlighting the city of Liège’s art collection, it’s an opportunity to discover some excellent Belgian artists who contributed to the movement alongside a handful of international names, including Kandinsky. The show traces the history of the artistic endeavour to create a new visual language to convey experience and emotion. In parallel, the art museum’s second exhibition is dedicated to Belgian Cécile Miguel, a 20th century artist and writer whose singular and highly personal works are a revelation. Until 18 August, Parc de la Boverie, Liège

Photos: Elliott Erwitt ©Tempora; Magritte House, Jane Graverol ©Sabam 2024; WIELS; Fashion Moves ©Stef Kkwinten; Fondation Boghossian, Rebecca Konforti Romain Ruiz Pacouret; Work in progress ©Alexander Silva; Bellum et artes ©staatliche kunstsammlungen Dresden Gemaldegalerie alte meister, photo ©Elke Estel Hans Peter Klut; Harry Potter ©Warner bros entertainment inc publishing rights ©JKR ; Triennale brugge ©Bangkok project studio; ©Collectie Roger Raveel Museum vlaamse gemeenschap; The Angels of Mons ©be_culture; Danethanadansalatelier Rops; Lucien Bitaux ©be_culture; CID spd58 paul gong human hyena ©Andrew Kan; Claude Monet ©Exhibition Hub