'Collection of M'

A new collection presentation

June 12, 2024

'Moerassen van Genk’ (detail), Rodolphe de Lexhy, 1894, Collection M Leuven, CC0, photo: M Leuven | ‘I Sea’ (detail), Tina Gillen, 2018, Flemish Community Collection at M Leuven, photo: © the artist

From 29 June 2024, M Leuven will present some 300 works from its rich and diverse collection, some of which will be shown at M for the first time. Both masterpieces and little-known gems take you down unexpected parallels and highlight socially relevant issues. The museum challenges visitors to look at art differently and make links between past and present. With the opening of the ‘Collection of M’, which coincides with the opening of the ‘Open M I Hidden in plain sight’ exhibition, M Leuven celebrates the start of summer as a full museum with something to discover in every hall.

Today, M's collection inludes more than 58,000 objects from the Stone Age to the present. The late Gothic, the Renaissance and the 19th century are particularly well represented. M also holds a valuable collection of contemporary art, with many works by artists active in Belgium. In recent years, the collection grew strongly with new acquisitions.

In the collection presentation that opens on 29 June and occupies the entire ground floor of the museum, visitors will discover both known and new collection pieces and their rich diversity; from sculpture, prints, painting or video to ceramics, glass or photography.

"The collection that M manages on behalf of the city of Leuven is the collection of all of us. The new presentation is a warm invitation to us to rediscover these shared cultural goods - for that's what they are - and give them a place in our own lives," says Bert Cornillie, Alderman for Culture and Chairman of M’s Board.

The heritage objects from the Middle Ages, works of art from the present and many more gems from other periods enter into an open dialogue with each other before the visitor's eyes. Think of works by artists such as Meunier, Coxcie, Bouts, Braeckman, Gillen or Vercruysse.

Eva Wittocx, Head of Contemporary Art at M, says: "Century-old art objects shed new light on current themes, and contemporary artworks make us look differently at existing visual traditions of the past. Thus, we are challenged in our viewing, and artworks invite us to reflect on the artwork, ourselves and our world."

How do light and matter interact? How can you capture the passage of time in images? How do artists reveal themselves in their works? What happens when you are face to face with a work of art? What do you see, what is absent, and what do you – as an individual – bring to the work? And does an 800-year-old object still have something to say about contemporary society?

Research projects or ‘conversation pieces’ in the gallery and a framing programme of lectures, publications and debates will continue to fuel reflection over five years.

Marjan Debaene, Head of Old Masters at M, says: "M preserves an important ensemble of medieval and early Renaissance sculpture from Leuven and Brabant. To continually sharpen its knowledge of them, M conducts specialised research. M’s Passion Altarpiece, for example, is being closely scrutinised and will be restored. Part of that process will take place in the museum hall - so every now and then you will bump into a researcher or restorer."

A festive opening and more

The opening of the collection presentation will be celebrated with a festive programme on 29 June. This event not only marks the opening of the collection presentation, it is also the start of the new exhibition ‘Open M I Hidden in plain sight’, which highlights regional talent. The same day will mark the start of the Summer of M, with a Summer Garden, a Summer Bar and numerous other activities. In addition, there are several ongoing exhibitions, including ‘Alias’, ‘A Space Begins, With Speaking’ by Sarah Smolders and M resident Lola Daels' show moment.

With the variety of exhibitions at M Leuven, from emerging and regional talent to a group exhibition with international artists, the museum offers a rich and diverse selection. This summer, therefore, visitors will have the chance to (re)discover M in all its totality.

Practical information

The new collection presentation will be festively opened on Saturday 29 June. At the same time, M will open its new exhibition ‘Open M | Hidden in plain sight’ and the Summer of M. For the occasion, there will be parties in and around the museum all afternoon.

‘Collection of M’ runs from 29.06.24 to 29.04.29. More info and tickets can be found at mleuven.be/en/programme/collection-of-m.

Collection of M | M Leuven

‘Collection of M’ spans several centuries: from ancient masters to contemporary makers and everything in between. The new displays showcase the richness of M’s collection and challenge you to actively look. Masterpieces and little-known gems take you down unexpected parallels or highlight the burning issues of the day.