Middelheim Open-Air Sculpture Museum

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Public park
In 1910, the Middelheim estate was bought by the Municipality of Antwerp, to prevent it being parcelled out. The Municipality had it opened up as a public park and made parts of the grounds available for the establishment of the Middelheim hospital, the University of Antwerp and the Pastoral and Theological Centre.

Open-air sculpture museum
In 1950, an international sculpture exhibition was organised for the first time in the Middelheim Park (20 hectares). At the suggestion of Mayor Lode Craeybeckx, the town council decided to create a permanent open-air sculpture museum in the grounds. The internationally renowned biennial sculpture exhibitions have been taking place since 1951, always in the summer months. The event takes place in the grounds of Middelheim-Laag, on the far side of the Middelheim Park. In 1989, the 20th biennial concluded the series.

The Braem Pavilion
The Braem Pavilion was inaugurated in 1971, to the design of the Antwerp architect, Renaat Braem. Here you can admire smaller sculptures and works from the collection that cannot be displayed in the open air.

represented artists

Carl Andre      Atelier van Lieshout      Guillaume Bijl      Tony Cragg      Luc Deleu      Luciano Fabro      Jef Geys      Dan Graham      Ann Veronica Janssens      Per Kirkeby

Matt Mullican      Juan Muñoz      Panamarenko      Pedro Cabrita Reis      Jessica Stockholder      Timm Ulrichs      Henk Visch      Franz West