Collages & assemblages: Verbeke Foundation

Abstract

An exceptional collection of roughly five thousand, particularly twentieth century, collages and assemblages lies at the heart of the private collection. A separate exhibition space has been specially designed to permanently display part of the collection. Not all of the works are on view, the exhibition is a subject to change four times a year. The collection, which was developed around the art of mainly Belgian artists, encompasses collages from the early 1920s (Avant-Garde and Dada era) by Paul Joostens, Georges Herbiet, Henri Van Straten, Michel Seuphor, Marcel-Louis Baugniet and Jean-Jacques Gailliard. Collages created by surrealists such as E.L.T. Mesens, Marcel Mariën, Gilbert Senecaut, Louis Scutenaire, Jane Graverol, Rachel Baes, Robert Willems and Roger Van De Wouwer also form a part of the collection. A wide range of works by artists from the heydays of collage art (1950s through 1970s) has been included into the collection: Georges Collignon, Engelbert Van Anderlecht, Robert Geenens, Max Servais, Annie Debie, Louis Van Lint, Christian Dotremont, the Coll'Art movement (founded by Marcel-Louis Baugniet and Jean Milo). The collection also includes a series of works by authors, poets and art critics dating back to the same era: literary creations by Louis-Paul Boon, Hugo Claus, Freddy De Vree, Paul De Vree and Patrick Conrad.