“Our exhibition space does not aim to be an oasis. Our presentation is unfinished, in motion, unpolished, contradictory, untidy, complex, inharmonious, living and unmonumental, like the world outside of the museum walls.”

Founded in 2007 by the art collectors Geert and Carla Verbeke-Lens, the Verbeke Foundation is a private art site which is a little bit different to your “classical” museum. Located on a twelve-hectare art park, the Verbeke Foundation is made up of storage buildings and greenhouses that make up a whopping 20 000 square meters of exhibition space.

What began as a collection of collages and various assemblages has now turned into an inspiring collection of “Bio-Art” – art that includes living animals (of course none are injured when making the artwork), plants and scenes, with visitors being encouraged to spend the entire day, and potentially the night, immersed in unorthodox art. Whilst this “Bio-Art” is at the heart of the collection, collecting collage and assemblages remain as the soul of the Verbeke Foundation, not only through the works but also the philosophy that belongs to them.

The Verbeke Foundation goes beyond the realm of the conventional private collection, resembling more of a living organism than just an exhibition space, with the location and artworks growing and transforming from one day to the next, creating a truly organic and individual experience for every visitor.

In their first presentation of their collection on Independent Collectors, we present artworks from the Verbeke Foundation’s private collection.

The Verbeke Foundation is included in the Art Guide.