Brussels 23.01.2025 The Brussels Fine Arts and Antique Fair – BRAFA – is becoming ready to unveil its 70th show. This anniversary edition promises to be a milestone, celebrating seven decades of quality, excellence and eclecticism.
Since its beginnings in 1956, the Fair, which was previously known as the Foire des Antiquaires, has enlarge its spectrum from Antiquity to contemporary art, by way of Old Masters paintings, classical African art, antique and designer furniture, goldsmithery, carpets and textiles, rare books and jewellery, and more.
BRAFA opening days:
January 26 to February 2, 2025,
the Fair will be welcoming 130 exhibitors
from 16 countries to Brussels Expo (Halls 3 and 4),
and 16 new galleries will also be joining the various sections.
Each year, BRAFA seeks to offer an exceptional panorama of art history in a convivial atmosphere enhanced by a sumptuous setting, which is eagerly anticipated by numerous visitors.
“BRAFA has become a brand in its own right. We have managed to avoid the lure of passing trends and fashions”, Klaas Muller, the Chairman of BRAFA, said. “What matters is the quality of the featured works and galleries. Our move to Brussels Expo in 2022 has increased accessibility to the Fair, for visitors from outside Brussels and abroad. The general atmosphere amongst participants is positive and friendly, the exhibitors are welcoming and always ready to share their passion with
visitors, and our audience is very varied, from art lovers to discerning collectors, by way of interior designers and museum curators”.
“BRAFA is the first major event of the year on the artistic calendar, and everyone is looking forward to discovering our Fair, which has become an unmissable event” Klaas Muller underlined.
An exceptional guest of honour BRAFA has chosen a prestigious guest of honour for this 70th edition: the Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos. Her monumental sculptures and immersive installations are imbued with humour, exploring universal themes such as the status of women, consumer society and collective identity.
Joana Vasconcelos modern picturesque creations will add dynamic impulses to the Fair. At BRAFA 2025, she will be exhibiting two Valkyries, sculptures inspired by the female figures from Norse mythology who flew over the battlefields, bringing the bravest warriors back to life to join the deities in Valhalla. Made from textiles, they give full expression to the artist’s creativity, involving a variety of fabrics and trimmings. The result is a surprising combination of volumes, textures and colours. Made up of a central body, a head, a tail and several arms, many of the Valkyries combine traditional craftsmanship with more technological methods, such as the
insertion of light to simulate vibration and breathing, which gives movement to the work.
“I am very honoured to be the guest of honour at the next BRAFA, especially since it is a festive edition linked to the 70th anniversary of the Fair, a milestone that highlights both its historical importance and the impact that the Fair has had on the international art world for so many years” said Joana Vasconcelos.
“BRAFA’s longevity is testament to its leading role for art connoisseurs and collectors, fostering an environment where the past, present and future of art overlap. Taking part in this celebration is not only a privilege, but also a great opportunity to get involved in an event that has become synonymous with cultural preservation and artistic exchange.”
As a space of meeting and transmission, BRAFA also makes a point of promoting Belgian heritage.
With this mindset, a new collaboration has been set up with the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (IRPA). The full range of IRPA’s conservation and restoration activities will be on display on its stand (n°136). Interactive workshops will also be held every day at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. (with the exception
of Monday, January 27th , 2025).
On the stand of the King Baudouin Foundation (n°135), visitors will be able to discover a selection of its most recent acquisitions. The Foundation’s participation at BRAFA contributes to making these treasures accessible to the general public, showcasing its mission to protect Belgium’s heritage for future generations. A series of lectures, the BRAFA Art Talks, will also be hosted on the stand of the Foundation, every day at 4 p.m. (with the exception of Monday, January 27th , 2025).
A selection of works at BRAFA 2025:
Over the course of two days, one hundred international experts examined the works to be exhibited. Some of these works are particularly remarkable for their rarity, their quality, or their exceptional provenance.
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