Art Antwerp, the contemporary art fair organised by Art Brussels, announces its fourth edition, set to take place from Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 December 2024 at Antwerp Expo.

Since its launch in 2021, Art Antwerp is characterised by a cheerful and convivial end-of-year atmosphere. This, together with the invitation-only nature of Art Antwerp for the participating galleries (which are selected by the Invitation Committee), makes Art Antwerp a true boutique fair.

The fair attracts 13 000 visitors for four days and showcases a mix of established and up-and-coming artists from diverse backgrounds, with a focus on galleries presenting special booth projects. ​

Unlike larger art fairs, Art Antwerp offers a cozy atmosphere that fosters personal connections between collectors, art lovers, curators, artists and galleries, encouraging meaningful conversations. The fair is more intimate, more personal in its approach and ​ pays special attention to the experience of its participants and visitors.

"The success of Art Antwerp lies in the unique, intimate atmosphere of our boutique fair and the emphasis on creating experiences. Visitors come not only to discover art in a setting full of surprises, but also to absorb the distinctive artistic energy that defines Antwerp. This 4th edition is marked by a tribute to the iconic gallerist Albert Baronian, who will end his career as a gallerist on the last day of the fair, a new prize for the ‘Best Booth’ presentation, selected by a professional international jury, a talk room with a master class on how to start collecting, interviews with artists and a live broadcast by Klara Pompidou. Striking sculptures will be prominent markers along the aisles. After a few hours at the fair, visitors can immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of the famous Antwerp fashion, design, contemporary art and Flemish masterpieces that the city has to offer"

​​ ​- Nele Verhaeren, Managing Director Art Antwerp

One of the exciting novelties this year is the Best Booth Prize: a new prize Art Antwerp is launching to reward the gallery that brings the most cohesive and convincing artistic vision and presentation. The key evaluation criteria include the artistic value of the booth project, as well as diversity, inclusion, and relevance. A professional jury will nominate the winning gallery, who will receive a prize of €2,500, which will be awarded during the opening day of the fair on Thursday.

The jury members of the Best Booth Prize are Elisa De Wyngaert (Curator at MoMu – Fashion Museum Antwerp), Joseph Kouli (French collector), Charlotte Martens (Senior Curator at Kunsthal Rotterdam) and Maurice Funken (Director of NAK – Neuer Aachener Kunstverein in Aachen - Germany). ​ ​

Another highlight will be a special booth project by Albert Baronian, honouring his significant contributions to Art Brussels as he prepares to close his gallery at the end of the year (more information below).

Visitors can look forward to a richer programme of conferences and talks, and the fair will also feature impressive large-scale installations and sculptures, adding a dynamic visual dimension to the event.

Art Antwerp continues to receive the support from main partners Delen Private Bank and Bank Van Breda. Antwerp's rich artistic heritage and vibrant contemporary art scene make it an ideal host city for this emerging art fair.

Honouring Albert Baronian: his final participation at an art fair

Albert Baronian has been invited by Art Antwerp to present his very last booth at an art fair, as Baronian Gallery will permanently close at the end of 2024. Since he opened his gallery in 1973 - more than five decades ago - Baronian has been a key player in the local and international gallery scene. In June this year, he received the FEAGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Basel. As a former president of the Brussels Gallery Association, he played an important role not only in the Art Brussels fair, but also in the launch of Easyfairs, the organising company behind Art Brussels and Art Antwerp. For his final appearance at the fair, Baronian will present works by four female artists from his programme: Leen Voet, Tessa Perutz, Charlotte Vander Borght and Toufan Hosseiny.

He will also be showing work by Mekhitar Garabedian, an artist who explores themes of migration and diaspora. Like Garabedian's grandfather, Albert Baronian's father arrived in Aleppo, Syria, fleeing the Armenian genocide. He later migrated to Antwerp, where he met and married his wife in 1932. Due to the heavy bombing during the Second World War, the family moved again, this time to Brussels, where Albert Baronian was born. Today, Mekhitar Garabedian lives in the city where the fair is held, completing the circle symbolised by this stand presentation.