BRUSK: Impactful stories in brand-new art gallery

By Malin Norman

This month sees the opening of an art gallery in Bruges. In the heart of the city’s Museum Quarter, BRUSK officially opens its doors with not one but two world-class and socially relevant exhibitions; one with a pioneer in AI-driven art, and the other offers a cultural-historical perspective. No doubt, this brand-new landmark is set to surprise and inspire.

BRUSK is more than a museum; it is a multi-faceted art gallery with surprising exhibitions and a programme with exciting activities. More than 30,000 visitors came for the pre-opening in September. The official opening is on 8 May, with two top-tier exhibitions that will put BRUSK on the international map of art and culture.

Laure Prouvost, detail: The Whispering Walls Rêve in BRUSK, 2026. Photo: ©Dániel Mátyás Fülöp

Together with BRON research centre, which opened last year, the renovated Groeninge Museum and a museum park along the canals – both due to open in 2030, BRUSK forms the heart of the new Museum Quarter. The building itself, with two museum rooms of monumental scale, was designed by Robbrecht & Daem architects and Olivier Salens architects.

French artist Laure Prouvost has created a four-part fresco for the central staircase. Spanning a total of 350 square metres, it takes visitors on a journey through the artist’s playful universe. Titled The Whispering Walls Rêve, this permanent addition is a true eyecatcher.

A place to view, experience and discuss art, BRUSK is set to be an inspiring oasis buzzing with creativity. In a press release, mayor Dirk De fauw states: “For centuries, Bruges has been a city of connections between worlds, ideas and people. With BRUSK, we continue this tradition in a way that brings together art, artists, visitors and residents. Here, our heritage inspires tomorrow’s imagination. Bruges demonstrates its own world-class strengths: innovative, multi-layered and connected to its time.”

Late Byzantine cross. Photo: Adornes Estate.

Reliquary of Charles the Bold, Trésor de Liège. Photo: KIK-IRPA

Digital art and historic metropolis

BRUSK opens with Turkish-American contemporary artist Refik Anadol, a pioneer in large-scale AI-driven art with exhibitions at for instance Guggenheim Bilbao and MoMA New York. Refik Anadol. Latent City marks the start of new museum-based series on urban imagination.

Refik Anadol, Melting Memories.

For his first solo exhibition in Belgium, Anadol has created an installation powered by data from Bruges. His AI models trained on millions of images from cities like Stockholm, Seoul and New York transform urban data into immersive visual experiences – blurring the boundaries between humanity, nature and technology.

In contrast, the cultural-historical exhibition Bigger Picture. Connected worlds of Bruges 900-1550 offers a new perspective on Bruges as a medieval metropolis. The collaboration with British historian and author Peter Frankopan at Oxford University and a team of national and international experts reveals the untold stories about the city’s past as a hub for global trade, culture and politics.

Showcasing artworks and objects from different ages and continents, the exhibition highlights the interactions between medieval Bruges and the rest of the world. Visitors will be able to see for instance Bellini’s iconic Portrait of Mehmed II, from the National Gallery in London, as well as manuscripts from the Vatican Apostolic Library.

Dialogue between past and present

This opening duo spans centuries of history and yet, it is firmly rooted in the present. Alderman of Culture Nico Blontrock says in a statement: “BRUSK will be a place where art dares. Where old and new stories challenge, surprise, and inspire one another. Here, there is no need to choose between past and present: BRUSK brings them into dialogue. Flemish Primitives alongside AI art, the painter’s hand next to the data network. The combination of “Bigger Picture” and Refik Anadol is no coincidence but a statement. All of this is embedded within a strong public programme featuring an inspiring range of activities – from introductory tours, workshops and performances to lectures and events for children. From day one, BRUSK aims to be a place for everyone.”

Refik Anadol. Metamorphosis – Serpenti.

Bigger Picture. Connected worlds of Bruges 900-1550
8 May to 6 September, 2026
Refik Anadol. Latent City
8 May to 8 November, 2026

For more information, see bruskbrugge.be/nl

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