Exactly one year ago, on 13th April 2024, we opened the doors of Buysse Gallery in Knokke. The gallery began quietly, without pretension, but with a clear intention: to create a space where contemporary art could be presented with care, depth, and curatorial precision. Our inaugural exhibition—Evanescence by Tom Van Puyvelde—not only set the tone for our program, but laid the foundation for what would become an ongoing artistic dialogue.
One year later, that dialogue continues—this time at Art Rotterdam 2025, where we presented Van Puyvelde’s new series in a solo context titled Transience. Two significant moments, connected by continuity and intention, reaffirming our commitment to building long-term relationships with the artists we work with. A gallery is never neutral—it is an active interlocutor in shaping and supporting the life of a work. Each exhibition renews this commitment.
As we mark this first year, we are pleased to announce a new collaboration with Belgian artist Nils Verkaeren. His practice speaks to the ethos of the gallery—a refined visual language grounded in materiality and gesture, and a strong conceptual underpinning. This partnership is not simply a next step; it represents the continuation of our curatorial direction and long-term vision.
Our approach is informed not only by artistic engagement but also by experience in the secondary art market—a field where we continue to operate with precision and discretion. This dual perspective allows us to support the career of an artist with a more holistic understanding of the art market ecosystem: from early career development to collector placement and long-term positioning.
In this moment of reflection, we also feel the need to address the wider context. More and more galleries are closing their doors. The pressures are not only financial—they are structural. The relationship between artist and gallery must remain reciprocal. If artists retreat into the studio without engagement, the infrastructure that sustains visibility, context, and conversation begins to dissolve. Without active support from both sides, the ecosystem weakens. The gallery is not just a space for display—it is a site of exchange, commitment, and continuity.
We believe in building something that lasts. And we look forward to doing so—carefully, intentionally, and with conviction.
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Louis Buysse
Founder, Buysse Gallery