The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) is hosting a major exhibition titled "Geestgrond" dedicated to British sculptor Antony Gormley, running from May 23 to September 20, 2026. Curated by Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, the show features over 100 works made from diverse materials including clay, stone, wood, glass, bread, iron, lead, and steel. The exhibition places Gormley's sculptures in dialogue with the museum's historical collection, spanning from a 14th-century Flemish Crucifixion to works by James Ensor, Auguste Rodin, and Julio González. It also extends beyond the museum walls into the streets of Antwerp and along the Scheldt River, with works from the Domain and Weave Works series appearing in urban spaces.
This exhibition matters because it represents the largest survey of Antony Gormley's work ever held in continental Europe, highlighting his four-decade contribution to contemporary sculpture and his exploration of the relationship between body, space, and environment. The show's integration of Gormley's pieces with historical artworks and its expansion into public spaces challenges traditional museum boundaries, offering a model for how contemporary art can engage with both institutional collections and the broader urban landscape. The title "Geestgrond"—a Dutch term blending spirit and soil—underscores the artist's ongoing investigation of the tension between materiality and transcendence.