Dauwens Gallery : Solo show Loïc Van Zeebroek
Originally founded by Laurence Dauwens and Joris Beernaert in 2015, the Dauwens & Beernaert Gallery supports an emerging scene alongside more established artists working in painting and video, spanning figurative to more conceptual art practices.
The gallery is located in a former bank building dating from 1876, in the Pentagone district in the centre of Brussels.
A loyal participant in Art Brussels, the gallery is, for this 42nd edition which brings together 139 Belgian and international galleries, part of the solo shows section, which is particularly well represented this year. On this occasion, it is presenting new paintings by Belgian artist Loïc Van Zeebroek.
Laurence Dauwens, whom I previously met at Art Luxembourg and who is now running the gallery on her own, reflects on what makes Art Brussels so compelling, what she aims to defend there, and the reasons that led her to open a new space in Knokke. She answered my questions.
The gallery is a loyal participant in Art Brussels: what distinguishes this fair within the European landscape ?
Art Brussels is an established reference in the international art world. The fair brings together both young emerging galleries and already well-established names. Belgium has a strong artistic tradition, supported by its artists and collectors, and this dynamic is clearly reflected in the fair.
Loïc Van Zeebroek courtesy the artist
What will you be presenting at this new edition?
This year, Dauwens Gallery is presenting a double booth: a solo presentation dedicated to the young Belgian painter Loïc Van Zeebroek (b. 1994).
His painting excels at evoking that indeterminate moment when something has just happened or is about to occur. Van Zeebroek neither narrates nor explains. His canvases inhabit an in-between space, on the boundary between the recognisable and the unsayable. His images result from composite assemblies in which personal photographs, found objects, and painted elements drawn from his imagination intersect. Through this collage-like technique on canvas, he creates hybrid and often enigmatic scenes in which reality and fiction intertwine.
Beyond landscape, interiors, and still life—recurring themes in his work—Van Zeebroek also revisits the motif of the carpet in these new works. For the artist, each subject becomes an opportunity to further explore the possibilities of painting.
We are also presenting works by Peter De Meyer, Marco De Sanctis, Quinten Ingelaere, and Charlotte Vandenbroucke.
Loïc Van Zeebroek, courtesy the artist
What do you defend within the gallery?
At the gallery, we defend a programme focused on contemporary painting, fostering dialogue between emerging young artists and more established ones. We favour singular, sensitive practices rooted in their time, while paying particular attention to pictorial quality and the coherence of each artistic trajectory. Our aim is to support artists over the long term and to create a space of discovery for collectors and art enthusiasts.
What led you to open a new space in Knokke?
I opened a second space in Knokke because many of our clients spend more time at the coast on weekends. The atmosphere in Knokke is different from Brussels: it is more relaxed, people take more time. In Brussels, I maintain a continuous programme of gallery exhibitions with a fixed schedule, where younger artists also have the space to present works with a more “museum-like” character.
You launched the gallery in 2015: what assessment do you make of it, both professionally and personally ?
I founded the gallery with my former husband in 2015. Since then, we are no longer together, but I have been running the gallery on my own for several years now. It has been a journey with its ups and downs, but I continue to do it with just as much passion.
In addition, you can read my interviews with Nele Verhaeren, Managing Director.
Devrim Bayar, curator new section « Horizons », senior curator KANAL Centre Pompidou
Practical Infos :
Art Brussels 2026
April, 23-26
Brussels Expo
Standard 20euros
Youth 10 euros
OPENING DAY
Thursday 23 April 2026
Preview | 11am – 4pm
Vernissage | 4pm – 9pm
PUBLIC DAYS
Friday 24 April 2026 | 11am – 7pm
Saturday 25 April 2026 | 11am – 7pm
Sunday 26 April 2026 | 11am – 6pm
Dauwens Gallery :
Avenue de Stalingrad 26
1000 Brussels
In the City off program during the fair /
Gallery Night
Organise your stay :
https://www.visit.brussels/fr/visiteurs
