BRUSSELS.- Kanal's collection of contemporary art has been growing steadily since its creation in 2018. Today, it includes works by such artists as Ann Veronica Janssens, Francis Alÿs, Pélagie Gbaguidi, Willem Oorebeek, Léonard Pongo, Kasper Bosmans, Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven, Otobong Nkanga and the recently deceased Walter Swennen alongside many others.
A year before its opening, Kanal adds another selection of artworks to that dynamically growing list. Latest acquisitions include works like Aequare: the Future that Never Was (2023), Sammy Baloji’s ruminative film that received a special mention at the Venice Biennale; or Luna Mahoux's intimate documentary The Other Queen of Memphis (2024), the artist’s first-ever work to be included in a museum collection. Among acquisitions highlights are also Lucy McKenzie’s Mural Proposal for Jeffrey Epstein's New York Townhouse (Filming of American Psycho) (2024), a monumental indictment of male power and violence; and Celluloid Brushes, a staggering collection of more than 100 hand-crafted film posters by as many artists, originally made for the renowned contemporary art space Etablissement d'en face. Rounding out the 2025 inventory are exciting artworks by Hélène Amouzou, Rosella Biscotti, Mekhitar Garabedian, Melissa Gordon, Hamedine Kane, Kate McIntosh, Sophie Nys and Oriol Vilanova.
Kasia Redzisz, Artistic Director commented: Kanal’s collection was established with commitment to reflect and support the dynamic and diverse artistic scene of Brussels, a city that hundreds of artists call home. We feel privileged to be able to represent and care for their work. Together with the members of our acquisition committee who work with us rigorously on the selection process, we are very much looking forward to showcasing many collection works as part of Kanal’s inaugural programme in November 2026.
In addition, following the 2021 acquisition of the Gevaert archives, Kanal has also acquired a broad anthology of artists’ publications and continues to expand on this collection. Kanal’s nascent library is yet another initiative that aims to bolster the Brussels art scene, acquiring from local projects, publishers and non-collecting institutions.
Anchored in Brussels, Kanal is committed to celebrating the local contemporary art scene. Its acquisition policy focuses on artists living and working in Brussels and Belgium and looks to build a collection that breathes diversity, ranging from painting and installations to photography, film and performance. Ever since the collection's inception – and long before the museum will open its doors – Kanal has been eager to showcase its holdings to the world, allowing the artworks to travel far and wide to reach a diverse and ever-growing audience. The ongoing effort to unlock the collection’s rich potential also extends to interviews with the artists, of which there many available online.
Kanal's YouTube channel, for instance, features recent interviews with Melissa Gordon and Hélène Amouzou that offer a fascinating glimpse into their unique worlds and practices, but also the interview with Jennifer Beauloye, Head of Collections, Archives & Library at Kanal, in which she talks about the works that were acquired in the past year.
