Xavier Hufkens is a contemporary art gallery on Rue Saint-Georges in Brussels, near Avenue Louise. The St-Georges site brings changing exhibitions into a purpose-built building designed by Belgian architects Robbrecht & Daem, alongside a connected classical mansion. Shows can range from painting and sculpture to photography and installations, with established artists and emerging creatives represented across the gallery’s programme. Entry is free, so you can drop in to see the current exhibition and spend time with work that may be large in scale or challenging in subject.
A gallery with three Brussels locations
Xavier Hufkens opened his first gallery in 1987, beginning in a warehouse and concentrating on emerging artists. The gallery has since grown to three locations: Van Eyck, St-Georges and Rivoli. Its programme brings artists from different generations together, pairing established names with younger creatives.
The St-Georges gallery opened in 2022, on the gallery’s 35th anniversary. It is the newest of the three sites and sits near Avenue Louise. Check the gallery’s own programme to confirm which location is showing the exhibition you want to see.
The St-Georges building
Belgian architecture firm Robbrecht & Daem designed the new St-Georges structure. The same architects had renovated the gallery’s connected classical mansion three decades earlier. Scale, light and proportion guided the design of the newer building, whose stacked concrete volumes provide expanded exhibition space.
The new structure nearly tripled the gallery’s presentation area. The exhibition spaces are set across six stories, giving the gallery room to show works at a substantial scale. A garden connects with the main hall, offering a quieter spot between the art and the surrounding city.
What you may see
The gallery works across painting, drawing, sculpture, photography and installation. Its exhibitions change, so the artists and subjects on view depend on when you visit. Past shows have included work by Nick Cave and Josh Smith, while other exhibitions have featured artists such as Christopher Wool and Joe Bradley.
Some exhibitions take on provocative or unsettling material. Paul McCarthy’s work, for example, engages with popular culture and includes references to Walt Disney and the American Western. Check the exhibition details before setting out if you have a particular artist or subject in mind.
Perguntas frequentes
Is Xavier Hufkens free to visit?
Yes. Entry is free.
What kind of art is shown at Xavier Hufkens?
The gallery presents contemporary art, including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography and installation.
When did the St-Georges gallery open?
The St-Georges site opened in 2022, marking the gallery’s 35th anniversary.
