Exhibitions

In our current climate of planetary uncertainty, the sublime has a shaky reputation. Once associated with overwhelming beauty—vast skies, towering cliffs, thunderous waterfalls—it is increasingly replaced by images of disruption and threat (wildfires, floodings, hurricanes…), where awe can feel uncomfortably close to dread. It is within this shifting landscape that Rivieren’s work finds its particular relevance: a sculpture of attention, where wonder is rediscovered not in spectacle, but in intimacy.

Rivieren’s practice is rooted in a striking paradox: the artist transforms discarded industrial metals —tubular steel, iron beams, barrels—into sculptural bodies of organic intensity, shaped by the vocabulary of fruit, seed pods, stones, cones, and trees. Built through rigorous steel crafting techniques and industrial finishing processes, these sculptures contradict the rigid function of their original material, revealing instead a kind of still life in motion: forms that feel intimate, tactile, and oddly alive.

This new show at LKFF Art Projects continues Rivieren’s distinctive shift: from the grand spectacle of the “natural sublime” toward an experience of awe through attention. Magnificence is no longer found in the overwhelming; it emerges through the close-up encounter, through scale that compels us to look again at what we normally overlook—those modest, familiar presences that normally pass through our days unnoticed. In these works, the stainless steel is not merely a medium—it becomes a conceptual instrument. Polished surfaces mirror the viewer, folding our presence into the sculpture’s skin, as though the work were not only being observed but also observing.

Rivieren’s shapes are “dictated by nature,” yet never reduced to simple imitation. They carry a sense of displacement—forms that seem transported from one realm to another, from the field, the orchard, the forest, the earth, into the gallery. In this shift of context, his sculptures become not only objects, but propositions: what deserves our respect, and what deserves our attention?

Born in Brussels in 1966 and established in Dubai since 2002, Arnaud Rivieren has developed his practice within the industrial landscape of the UAE, where he set up his foundry in Jebel Ali. Influenced by a background in the steel industry and the oil & gas field, he commands metals and alloys with the precision of an engineer—yet his sculptures ultimately refuse efficiency. They insist on contemplation. They invite stillness.

Discover the new solo exhibition by Dubai-based sculptor Arnaud Rivieren. Our gallery rooms in Beersel (Flanders) will be fully dedicated to Rivieren’s stainless-steel sculptures—works that expand his ongoing exploration of nature’s forms, memory’s distortions, and the uneasy poetry of permanence in an age of instability. The exhibition will run until May 3rd, 2026.

« A Life with Art », pays tribute to a remarkable couple of Belgian art collectors whose passion for sculpture, painting, and works on paper deeply marked their home and lives throughout the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. This intimate yet ambitious presentation gathers a wide selection of artworks from their estate, ranging from Belgian abstract sculpture to lyrical abstraction, post-war painting, and refined works on paper. Their collection reflected both curiosity and consistency: a strong inclination toward abstraction, balanced by a few rare figurative pieces—including an emblematic early work by Hanneke Beaumont. A Home filled with Art… The house and garden formed an immersive environment where art was part of everyday life.

Abstract sculptures by Louis Halleux, Johan Baudart, Jacques Guilmot, Antoine de Vinck, Francis Dusepulchre, Jacky de Maeyer and others – whose practices contributed to the development of post-war sculptural abstraction in Belgium – inhabited the space with quiet, powerful presence. Indoors, paintings by Suzanne Van Damme, Suzanne Thienpont, Berthe Dubail,… and several other post-war Belgian artists testified to a deeply personal and coherent vision. The couple also collected works prints and on paper by prominent figures such as Eduardo Chillida, Pol Bury, Marthe Wéry, and Raoul Ubac, highlighting their affinity for materiality, gesture, and pure form. « A Life with Art» highlights the importance of private collecting as a force shaping the visibility and preservation of artistic heritage. The presentation offers an opportunity to view artworks that have remained largely unseen by the public and to appreciate the coherence of a collection built outside institutional frameworks. An accessible entry into Belgian Modernism Many of the works included in the exhibition are offered in an accessible price range (starting at 150€), making this event an exceptional opportunity for both seasoned collectors and first-time buyers.

With the holiday season approaching, it is also an ideal moment to find a meaningful and lasting gift. Join us for the cocktail opening at LKFF Art Projects on December 7th to celebrate the spirit of collecting, honour the memory of two passionate art lovers, and discover a rare ensemble of sculptures, paintings, and works on paper that capture an important chapter of Belgian artistic creation.