Art Center Hugo Voeten and the new and upcoming in New York

A new addition to Art Privée is the Hugo Voeten Art Center in Herentals, Belgium, east of Antwerp. Opened in 2012, the former grain factory was converted into an exhibition space to showcase the collection of the late entrepreneur, Hugo Voeten (1940-2017), featuring works by both Belgian and international artists such as Thierry de Cordier, Thomas Houseago, and Arno Breker among many others. An accompanying 40-acres of land in the neighboring city of Geel is dedicated to the Beeldentuin Hugo Voeten, which translates to sculpture garden, showcasing more than 200 works by over 35 artists. In an interview with Larry’s List, collection manager, Eveline Heylen, says “Hugo Voeten was a very intuitive art collector. He said ‘As a collector, I trust my own taste and opinion. This results in a very personal, diverse collection.’ We continue to make sure that what is on display exhales this very atmosphere. In this respect, we do not prefer chronological presentations or highly elaborated curatorial concepts, but rather design-intuitive presentations that appeal to many” (E. Heylen quoted in “A Dedicated Maecenas’ Private Art Temple” Larry’s List, 2021).

Stateside, the reopening of Dia’s Chelsea space following a two-year renovation is more than welcome. The work of Lucy Raven will inaugurate the new space, with a light installation and film titled Ready Mix. The exhibition opens April 16th and will be on view through January 2022.

Opening April 8^th, Glenstone, a private museum in Maryland, will open an exhibition highlighting the quilted works of Faith Ringgold in a first-time show. Ringgold’s exhibition originated in London at the Serpentine gallery, later traveling to Sweden. There are more than 70 works by the artist who is known for her powerful patchwork quilts depicting racism and inequality. The artist’s works are not part of the Glenstone Collection, though the Mitchell and Emily Rales collection in Maryland previously exhibited pieces from their own extensive art collection. The Rales were so taken by the show that they exhibited the amazing quilts in the Washington DC area.

The New Museum exhibition Grief and Grievance: Art and Mourning in America, an intergenerational show, which opened earlier in February is a must-see in New York, on view through the 6^th of June and featuring works by Mark Bradford, Rashid Johnson, Adam Pendleton, Howardena Pindell and more.