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
-
Inuit Art Takes Centre Stage at Brussels’ Art & History Museum
From 16 October 2026 to 18 April 2027, the Art & History Museum in Brussels
-
Stanislawa: Building a Queer Future from Belgium’s Clubbing Past
Between Brussels and Amsterdam, DJ and producer Stanislawa turns 1990s trance, sensual techno and progressive-house
-
What Happens When We Move Together? The Mechanics of Crowds Comes to Liège
From 20 November 2026 to 4 April 2027, La Cité Miroir in Liège hosts The
-
Orlane on Amour Pluriel: The Rise of a Queer Belgian Pop Icon
Orlane has never hidden her queerness. In ROUGE À LÈVRES, desire for a woman slips
-
Dolly Parton: The Rhinestone Queen Who Made Space for Us
Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, leaving behind an immense catalogue of