Francis Maere Fine Arts

The Ooidonk Art Festival 2025 opened last week, and we’re thrilled with the warm and enthusiastic responses we've received so far. Set against the stunning backdrop of Goed te Réables, right next to the iconic Ooidonk Castle in Bachte-Maria-Leerne, the festival runs from May 17 through August 31 and promises a summer filled with powerful artistic encounters. This fourth edition brings together over 40 contemporary artists, including renowned names such as Wim Delvoye, Jan Fabre, Tony Matelli, and Sofie Muller, alongside a new generation of emerging talent. Their work inhabits the historic interiors and natural surroundings of the 17th-century farmhouse, in a curated dialogue between contemporary art, heritage, and landscape.

The artworks at this year’s Ooidonk Art Festival are not static, they evolve throughout the summer, shaped by weather, light, time, and even living organisms. Visitors can expect installations that grow, transform, and surprise. Highlights include a living tree sculpture by Wim Delvoye, a poetic retrospective by Johan De Wit, a growing bee-cathedral by Isidoor Goddeeris, a full-scale scenic installation by Lieven Lefere, and an ever-changing canvas by Ruth Devriendt; alongside over 100 other remarkable works.

This weekend marks the opening of our City Pavilion, a parallel exhibition in the Francis Maere Fine Arts Gallery, open every weekend throughout the summer. Here, the very same artists from the Ooidonk Art Festival present entirely different works in a radically contrasting gallery setting. The City Pavilion offers a more intimate, reflective counterpoint to the outdoor experience at Goed te Réables. Whether you're escaping a rainy day, completing a cultural city stroll, or seeking a deeper connection to the festival, this satellite exhibition is the perfect complement that brings two distinct worlds together under one vision.
 

Ooidonk Art Festival - www.OoidonkArtFestival.be

Goed Te Réables | Ooidonkdreef 5, 9800 Bachte-Maria-Leerne

Opening days: Thursday to Sunday, 11 AM – 6 PM

Tickets: €10 – Available at the door

City Pavilion - www.francismaerefinearts.be
Francis Maere Fine Arts | Kouter 172, 9000 Gent
Opening days: Saturday & Sunday, 11 AM – 6 PM
Tickets: FREE