M Leuven Expands the Cera Collection of Contemporary Art Works

Every year, the Cera collection, which is on long-term loan to M Leuven, grows with new acquisitions. On the advice of M, Cera purchased works by three Belgian contemporary artists: Anne Daems, Vincent Geyskens and Marie Zolamian. A number of these works will be on display at M from 14 October.

"Like Cera, M Leuven is committed to supporting artists in Belgium. Cera relies on M's expertise for new purchases and the works are then given on long-term loan. We are therefore very grateful to Cera for their trust in M and the expansion of the M collection with these beautiful contemporary pieces," explains Denise Vandevoort, alderman of culture and chairwoman of the board of M.

Cera, a financial cooperative with 400,000 associates, realises projects with three ambitions: warm and caring neighbourhoods, a society without barriers, strong and broad-based cooperatives. In addition, for more than 20 years Cera has been investing in art by Belgian artists. It does not go for established artists but rather promising talent that can use extra support and advanced talent that remains underexposed. Works by Anne Daems, Marie Zolamian and Vincent Geyskens, who had a solo exhibition at M earlier in 2021, were acquired.

Eva Wittocx,curator and head of the contemporary art department, continues: "The works that we acquire are often by contemporary emerging or underexposed already established Belgian artists. We build on ensembles that already exist in the collection, or we introduce new names."

In 2021, the focus was on new or recent work by various Belgian artists, some of whom were already represented in the collection. Works by Anne Daems, Marie Zolamian and Vincent Geyskens were acquired; the latter had a solo exhibition at M earlier in 2021.

The New Pieces

Anne Daems lives and works in Brussels. She makes photos, videos, installations and drawings. Four drawings from the series 'Stoel Gustave Serrurier-Bovy bedekt met kledingstukken' (2019) were acquired. This is a series of a total of 18 drawings in pencil and watercolour, representative of the artist's recent work. The four artworks are an addition to the existing collections held by Cera and M. In addition to the long-term loan from Cera, M also recently received an installation with three sculptures and a drawing on long-term loan from the Flemish Community Collection.

Painter Vincent Geyskens hails from Lier and works with various media. The edition (2021) was made on the occasion of his solo exhibition in M. This work is a lithograph that was handcrafted by the artist and printed in a limited edition of ten pieces. The work is representative of recent work by the artist. The purchase complements the existing collections held by Cera and M. In addition to the long-term loan from Cera, M also recently received two paintings on long-term loan from the Flemish Community Collection.

Marie Zolamian lives and works in Liège. The artist makes installations, videos and paintings. Three paintings were purchased, one titled 'Sophism' (2018) and two untitled from 2019. Neither the M collection nor the Cera collection yet had any of her work.

A number of the acquired works of art will be on display from 14 October in Room 0.E. More info soon on: www.mleuven.be. Missed Vincent Geyskens’ solo exhibition? Listen to the podcast here and relive the expo.

Previous initiatives at M such as the group exhibition the Constant Glitch and the crowdfunding campaign art belongs to everyone also came about with the support of Cera. To learn more about the Cera art collection, please visit Cera art collection or mleuven.be/belgian-art. ​

Zonder titel, Marie Zolamian, 2019, Cera-collectie bij M Leuven, foto: © Marie Zolamian‘Ik, Tiresias’, Vincent Geyskens, nr. 8/10, 2021, Cera-collectie bij M Leuven, foto: © Vincent Geyskens

Zonder titel, Marie Zolamian, 2019, Cera-collectie bij M Leuven, foto: © Marie Zolamian

‘Sophisme’, Marie Zolamian, 2018, Cera-collectie bij M Leuven, foto: © Marie Zolamian‘Stoel Gustave Serrurier-Bovy bedekt met kledingstukken 6’, Anne Daems, 2019, Cera-collectie bij M Leuven, foto: © Anne Daems, courtesy Galerie Micheline Szwajcer

‘Stoel Gustave Serrurier-Bovy bedekt met kledingstukken 3’, Anne Daems, 2019, Cera-collectie bij M Leuven, foto: © Anne Daems, courtesy Galerie Micheline Szwajcer‘Stoel Gustave Serrurier-Bovy bedekt met kledingstukken 8’, Anne Daems, 2019, Cera-collectie bij M Leuven, foto: © Anne Daems, courtesy Galerie Micheline Szwajcer‘Stoel Gustave Serrurier-Bovy bedekt met kledingstukken 14’, Anne Daems, 2019, Cera-collectie bij M Leuven, foto: © Anne Daems, courtesy Galerie Micheline Szwajcer

M Leuven collection is expanding with 60 contemporary artworks

M Leuven houses an exciting and unique mix of historical and contemporary art in an impressive architectural setting, designed by the renowned Belgian architect Stéphane Beel. M offers a permanent collection and a mix of temporary exhibitions by old masters and contemporary artists.

M Leuven

The Constant Glitch

It is no secret: the cultural sector was and is under pressure. M, the City of Leuven and Cera joined forces to provide oxygen. The City of Leuven and Cera each made €50,000 available and the crowdfunding campaign 'Art is for everyone' by M-LIFE, the museum fund of M Leuven, added over €15,000 on top. Thanks to this collaboration, 19 artists are supported through the purchase of 37 works. Those works will be on view in M starting 02.04.21 in 'The Constant Glitch', M's new exhibition.

MM

Art is for everyone

Ensure the future of art

M-LIFE

Belgian art after 1945

With 500 works by over 70 Belgian artists, the M collection presents a unique overview of Belgian art since 1945. Next to renowned artists such as Marcel Broodthaers, Philippe Van Snick, Lili Dujourie and Jan Vercruysse, the younger generation is also represented in the collection, with works by Anne Daems, Gert Robijns, Valérie Mannaerts and Michael Van den Abeele.

MM