ART ON CAMPUS – MIDDELHEIMCAMPUS

IMPORTANT: before booking first contact uantwerpen@kgva.be.

Education, research and social service are traditionally part of a university’s mission. At the Antwerp University also art and culture have been added.

Since the 1970’s the Art on Campus Commission has been pursuing an active art policy, which has resulted in a collection of over 1,100 paintings, sculptures and other forms of plastic, mainly contemporary, art.

The works are not housed in a delimited museum, but, spread across four campuses, integrated into the environment of staff and students: on walls in the corridors, on ceilings, hidden in the greenery.

Art explores life and reality and, just as science, it opens new horizons. Art challenges intellectually and emotionally and can inspire students and scientists.

Antwerp University is willing to offer interested visitors the opportunity to enjoy its collection and the architecture of its buildings.

On the Middelheimcampus is the rectorate building of Antwerp University. This building used to house the former colonial college. It was designed by architect Walter Van Kuyck in 1930. This Art Deco building replaced the original one, which was destroyed by fire in 1921.

On this campus a lot of works by the Cobra avant-garde movement can be admired, of which the Alechinsky-Claus Hall is the most remarkable one.

In a park with statues by modern and contemporary artist (a.o. Folon, Arne Quinze,…) a few buildings can be found where maths and informatics are being studied.

More contemporary art (e.g. by Nadia Naveau) can be seen in Building I, which was put into use in 2014.

In a corner of the garden you will be surprised to find Villa Laude, built in colonial style in the same period as the main building.

During a walk of about one hour and a half your guide will help you understand and admire architecture and art inside and out.