Galerie Haesaerts-le Grelle

BRAFA 2026 welcomes Gustave Serrurier-Bovy experts Galerie Haesaerts-le Grelle

Belgian Art Nouveau is often associated with sweeping architectural gestures, yet its quieter, more structural language is equally revealing. This video introduces the work of Gustave Serrurier-Bovy (1858–1910) through a visit to Galerie Haesaerts-le Grelle, one of the new exhibitors at BRAFA 2026.

Serrurier-Bovy occupies a singular place in the evolution of European design at the turn of the 20th century. Trained as an architect and deeply attuned to Anglo-Japanese aesthetics, he developed a vocabulary that privileges clarity, proportion and the expressive potential of simple materials. His furniture is often described as “architectural”, not for its scale but for its underlying structure and coherence.

Galerie Haesaerts-le Grelle has placed Serrurier-Bovy at the core of its programme, while also presenting a refined selection of British decorative arts from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including works by W.A.S. Benson, Liberty & Co. and William Morris. This dual focus creates a dialogue between Belgian and British visions of modernity, revealing their shared concerns for craftsmanship, material honesty and the reinvention of domestic space.

The pieces examined in this interview highlight several aspects of Serrurier-Bovy’s practice.

The grandfather clock of around 1906, in oak, brass and blue faience, distils his approach to vertical composition and measured ornament. The interplay between its restrained colour accents and structural sobriety demonstrates his ability to find harmony without excess.

The chandelier, explored here in detail, reveals his mastery of metalwork: fluid lines, controlled curvature and a dynamic balance between mass and void that aligns Art Nouveau with architectural rhythm rather than decorative flourish.

Seen together, these objects trace a designer who stands at the threshold between the ornamental aspirations of Art Nouveau and the rational spirit that would shape European design in the decades to come.

This video offers a close look at the material, technical and conceptual dimensions of his work, and provides a first glimpse of the gallery’s solo presentation dedicated to Serrurier-Bovy at BRAFA 2026.

📍 BRAFA Art Fair 2026
🗓️ 25 January – 1 February | Brussels Expo
🎟️ Tickets & info: brafa.art

BRAFA Principal Sponsor: Delen Private Bank

Video by NOOT