For its 9th edition, the PhotoBrussels Festival continues to challenge perceptions with “A Public Affair,” an evolving exhibition curated by Bayo Hassan Bello. Hosted at Frédéric De Goldschmidt’s private collection space, this expanded showcase delves deeper into the fluidity of public and private identities, a theme that resonates powerfully within queer communities.
Originally featuring twenty striking photographs, the exhibition now welcomes iconic voices in queer and subversive art, including Robert Mapplethorpe—whose raw, sensual, and unapologetic portrayals of masculinity and desire have shaped LGBTQ+ visual culture. Alongside him, trailblazing artists like Shirin Neshat and Danh Vō bring their perspectives on identity, exile, and the personal as political. The exhibition also gives space to a new generation of artists such as Brussels-based Léa Belooussovitch and Yoel Pytowski, whose in situ installation adds a contemporary, immersive element.
Other featured artists include David Armstrong, David Brognon & Stéphanie Rollin, Edgar Martins, Musa N. Nxumalo, and Hank Willis Thomas—each contributing a distinct reflection on visibility, power, and representation. By bringing together different generations and artistic approaches, “A Public Affair” sparks a necessary conversation about who gets to be seen and how queerness is portrayed in photography. The exhibition offers a compelling reflection on identity and self-expression, making it a key highlight of this year’s festival.
You may also like
-
Pride jazz in the heart of Brussels: a free concert at The Music Village
On 16 May, while Brussels Pride is turning the city into a giant rainbow, one of
-
Liège’s Maison Arc-en-Ciel opens a new collective show with a queer edge
Liège’s Maison Arc-en-Ciel is once again turning its walls into a shared queer canvas. The new collective
-
Sandra Kim’s 1986 Eurovision win still shines 40 years later
Forty years on, Sandra Kim remains one of Belgian pop culture’s most improbable and enduring icons. Her
-
Bruxellons! 2026 brings musicals, magic and summer theatre back to Molenbeek
The Bruxellons! 2026 festival is shaping up to be a big summer for live performance in Brussels,
-
Lude & les métamorphoses bring a fresh spring pop glow
There are projects that feel made for the first warm days of the year, and Lude