The Abstract Art Museum presents an overview of 20th-century abstract art through a collection of more than 200 works by primarily Belgian artists.
The ground floor offers an overview of the various trends within abstraction, such as lyrical and geometric abstraction. The exhibition then follows a chronological path: the second floor is dedicated to the pioneers, among whom René Magritte was counted in his youth. Major figures include Victor Servranckx, Jozef Peeters, and P.L. Flouquet. The third floor presents the second generation of abstract artists (1950–2000) and the further development of this movement, which has since found a wider audience and is making its mark on the urban landscape, as evidenced by a well-known Brussels monument: the Atomium.
The second floor serves as a pivotal point, inviting visitors to explore the evolution of abstract art by proceeding to the third floor, then retracing their steps to pass through the door leading to the René Magritte Museum to witness the artistic journey of a young Magritte—who had first been interested in Futurism and Cubism—before he abandoned these movements in favor of Surrealism.
The collection
The works on permanent display represent about one-third of the entire collection. They provide a comprehensive overview of the abstract art scene in Belgium.
The gathering of these paintings, sculptures, and drawings—of high quality both aesthetically and historically—offers a unique opportunity to discover an artistic movement that remains largely unknown to the general public.
Among the artists on display, you will find, among others,Pierre Alechinsky, Gaston Bertrand, Pol Bury, Felix de Boeck, Jo Delahaut, Renée Demeester, PL Flouquet, René Guiette, Francine Holley, Kurt Lewy, Jacques Moeschal, Jozef Peeters, Léopold Plomteux, Jean Rets, Victor Servranckx, Edmond Van Dooren, Fernand Vonck, and Maurice Wyckaert.
Overview of the Collection
