Inspired to offer a playful alternative to traditional art fairs by in New York (Gramercy), Brussels (White Hotel), and Bangkok(Hotel Art Fair), the art dealer Patrick Mestdagh (Galerie Patrick & Ondine Mestdagh) has partnered with gallery owner Sébastien Janssen (Sorry We’re Closed) to organize a brand-new art and antiques fair in Brussels.
The Rooms will take place at the end of May (from May 22nd to 25th), occupying several dozen rooms at the Mix Brussels, a four-star hotel and club inaugurated in the spring of 2023 in the former headquarters of Royale Belge in Watermael-Boitsfort.
For them, as well as for all participants, the goal is to break away from conventional art and antiques
fair formats, embracing a more intimate approach that has already proven successful, while organizing
it in an unexpected venue. The Mix Brussels, nestled within a modernist building emblematic of the
1960s, set in a lush green environment, and featuring resolutely forward-thinking design, serves as the
ideal location—a symbol of a new, dynamic, youthful, and creative energy.
In total, approximately thirty contemporary art galleries, art dealers, and antique merchants will occupy
the spaces, filling an entire wing of the building. These exhibitors, some of whom do not participate in
any other fairs, represent a diverse range of specialties, including jewelry, modern art, contemporary
art, non-European art, decorative arts, ancient art, the High Middle Ages, archaeology, as well as
classical art from Asia, Africa, and Oceania.
This unique format, where dealers and galleries each occupy a hotel room and tailor their offerings
accordingly, will result in a one-of-a-kind experience for visitors, whether they are enthusiasts or
collectors. The primary idea is to preserve the convivial and original character of the rooms as much as
possible, thereby offering the public a distinctive, more intimate experience of engaging with works of
art.
The event, which is free of charge, is open to all audiences and will feature a sculpture exhibition, as well
as a room entrusted to the care of designer Lionel Jadot (Zaventem Ateliers). Jadot, the interior designer
for the Mix Brussels, has been invited to curate and stage a selection of objects from the various
participating galleries.
The Rooms will also host a series of conferences and roundtables, in partnership with the private bank
Puilaetco, which specializes in wealth management and has a presence within the former Royale Belge.
Topics will cover a range of diverse and engaging subjects, including patronage, the transmission of
heritage, the fight against money laundering, artist jewelry, the dialogue between dealers and collectors,
art leasing, insurance, and more.
There will also be a Mood Room, where, in a single large room transformed into a warm and festive space, the spirit brand Aperol, barber Bayer & Bayer, chocolatier Pierre Marcolini, and art publisher Taschen will come together.
The Rooms Art Fair , May 22nd to 25th Mix Brussels
PARTICIPATING GALLERIES
- AEROPLASTICS
- AKKAD WALID
- ARTIMO
- ARY JAN MATHIAS
- BALLON ROUGE
- CLAES DIDIER
- COLNAGHI
- COSTERMANS
- DE SPA ARNAUD
- DEROM SOPHIE
- EDJI GALLERY
- FRANK BRUCE
- GAILLARD CHRISTOPHE
- GRUSENMEYER WOLINER
- HARMAKHIS
- HIOCO CHRISTOPHE
- JADOT LIONEL
- LANCZ
- LEFEVRE PÈRE ET FILS
- LES PRECIEUSES
- MESTDAGH PATRICK & ONDINE
- MEYER ANTHONY
- miniMASTERPIECE
- MODESTI PERDRIOLLE
- SIGAL PATRICK
- SORRY WE’RE CLOSED
- SPAX
- SPAZIO NOBILE
- VAN SEVEREN RAF
- VANHOENACKER Henri
- WOLVERSPERGES Thibaut
- ZABULUM
