On 11 December, Art Antwerp opened its doors at Antwerp Expo – a fair that is increasingly strengthening its position on the European contemporary art scene. From the very first minutes, the pavilions were filled with a vibrant, festive atmosphere: gallerists were adjusting the lighting, collectors exchanged news, and early visitors (many of them collectors) explored works by 270 artists from 79 galleries representing eleven countries. Everything you would expect from an art fair.

Let us turn to the new developments.

A key highlight is the newly established Art Antwerp Acquisition Prize, created with the support of Bank Delen. Thanks to this prize, a work selected by the jury directly at the fair will enter the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA). In this way, the fair creates a direct and dynamic bridge between a commercial platform and a museum institution, significantly enhancing its cultural impact.
The jury consists of two KMSKA curators, a representative of the sponsoring investment bank, and a private collector — notably Joost Vanhaerents, whom I previously discussed in connection with the Vanhaerents Foundation in Brussels during the ARTONOV festival.

The first recipient of the prize is French artist Laure Prouvost. The jury selected her work Sweaty Cuddle, presented by Galerie Nathalie Obadia — a Paris-based gallery that has been active in Brussels for over fifteen years. Once again, Prouvost demonstrated her ability to create works that engage the viewer both emotionally and physically: the visual experience is always accompanied by a sense of involvement that is almost bodily. Her work reminded me of Michelangelo Pistoletto’s mirrors. In any case, the new prize and its first laureate set a confident tone for the entire fair, which continues to grow, evolve and offer an increasingly rich artistic environment.

Another welcome addition is the introduction of free guided tours in English and Dutch, while the Art Advisory Desk helps visitors navigate the fair, ask questions of gallerists and make informed choices. A helpful support for those taking their first steps into contemporary art.