Summer 2026 at Muhka
Striking solo exhibitions by Nicola L., Jean Katambayi Mukendi and Denys Shantar. A brand-new collection presentation and archive presentation. A continuously evolving art installation by AAIMACHINE in the reading room, and a selection of collection works on tour in Zeeland. This summer, there is once again plenty to discover both inside and beyond Muhka.
The Collection as a Living Point of Departure
The new exhibition programme brings together artists from different generations, countries and contexts. Yet they share a common starting point. Together, they reflect what Muhka stands for as a museum: the collection as its foundation, a perspective that places contemporary art within a historical context, and a strong international outlook.
A museum collection is much more than a group of artworks. It defines the museum’s identity, reflects the artists it supports, and carries the stories it continues to tell. This is clearly visible this summer in three monographic exhibitions.
Both the French artist Nicola L. and the Congolese artist Jean Katambayi Mukendi have been part of the Muhka collection for many years. Their exhibitions build on a long-standing relationship between artist and museum. Denys Shantar, meanwhile, explores how global history becomes visible in our own surroundings.
Three Solo Exhibitions
Main Exhibition: Nicola L. — When the Earth Turned the Other Way
25.06–18.10.2026
Muhka presents the first Belgian solo exhibition of the French artist Nicola L. (1932–2018). Although she was an important voice within the post-war avant-garde, producing groundbreaking work on themes such as freedom, equality, collectivity and ecology, Nicola L. did not always receive the recognition she deserved during her lifetime. As a posthumous tribute, this exhibition brings renewed attention to her work while also highlighting her close connection to Belgium.
IN SITU: Jean Katambayi Mukendi — RATIO
06.06–27.09.2026
Jean Katambayi Mukendi explores how art can propose new ways of looking at the world. For his first solo museum exhibition, he brings together new drawings, paintings and monumental sculptures. Working with recycled materials, mathematical calculations and a fascination with technology, he develops alternative systems that raise questions about power, natural resources, inequality and progress. The exhibition coincides with the publication of Circuits, the first monograph dedicated to his work.
Denys Shantar — On Saints and Monuments
26.06–23.08.2026
For Muhka, international engagement is not only about presenting artists from around the world, but also about exploring how global history manifests itself in our local environment. This is the focus of the new solo presentation by Antwerp-based Ukrainian artist Denys Shantar. Through newly created works, he examines how Belgium’s colonial past is intertwined with religion, monuments and public space, drawing connections between global history and the places we encounter every day.
A Collection in Motion
The museum collection does not only live through solo exhibitions. It continuously acquires new meanings by bringing artworks together in new contexts, revisiting archives and developing collaborations with other institutions. This is reflected in new presentations, both within the museum and beyond its walls.
Collection Presentation: Ongoing
06.06.26 – 03.01.27
What happens when artists continue working without knowing where their work will lead? Ongoing brings together artworks that focus not on the final result, but on the ongoing process of searching, revisiting and persevering. The presentation forms a new chapter within the permanent collection display The Situation is Fluid.
Archive Presentation: Old Guard? Avant-Garde!
06.06.26 – 13.09.26
How did the avant-garde continue to evolve after the Second World War? Through eight parallel stories, this archive presentation shows how artists such as Jozef Peeters, Paul Joostens and Michel Seuphor reconnected with a new generation of artistic experimentation.
Salon de la Muse | AAIMACHINE
25.06.26 – 25.10.26
The collection itself also continues to grow. Salon de la Muse is a collective artwork by AAIMACHINE that is constantly expanding. Since 2026, it has been part of the City of Antwerp Collection and has been managed by Muhka. This summer, the work occupies a new temporary location in the museum’s reading room.
Vleeshal Collectie on Tour
05.07.26 – 13.09.26
The collection extends beyond the museum walls. To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Vleeshal, a selection of works from both the Vleeshal Collection and the Muhka Collection travels to ten locations across the Dutch province of Zeeland. In this way, new encounters arise between artworks, institutions and audiences, beyond Antwerp.
Summer 2026 at a Glance
