The partnership between Luxembourg Art Week and the City of Luxembourg has been continually developed in recent years, especially since the provision of an ephemeral space on Glacis square in 2021, which significantly contributed to the expansion and international visibility of the fair. The urban connection of Luxembourg Art Week means little if it does not, in turn, benefit local initiatives and the numerous galleries that daily cultivate a close relationship with an audience eager to broaden its aesthetic horizons.
From monumental sculptures trail The Rebellion by Atelier Van Lieshout to galleries and institutions that cater to a large audience year-round, the Art Walk is an invitation to explore the capital. Bordered on both sides by two rivers, the Pétrusse and the Alzette, the city's heart historically brings together most of the cultural infrastructure. You can find Hans Fellner's gallery (Fellner Contemporary #5), entirely dedicated to Luxembourgish artists, as well as those of André Simoncini (galerie Simoncini #8) and Luc Schroeder, the director of MOB-ART Studio (#11), currently hosting Samuël Levy's drawings. Let's also mention galerie Schortgen (#7), established in the Grand Duchy since 1949, which is currently exhibiting the female portraits of Lilas Blano. Others are more oriented towards the international market, such as the Zidoun-Bossuyt Gallery (#16), which supports the work of African and African-American artists. Located in the Grund, one of the most charming neighborhoods in the city of Luxembourg, Zidoun-Bossuyt Gallery is presenting the paintings of Khalif Tahir Thompson for the first time in the Grand Duchy. Situated right next to the Nationalmusée um Fëschmaart (formerly the Musée national d’Histoire et d’Art #27), Nosbaum Reding gallery (#12) is one of the must-visits on the Art Walk. Alex Reding, talent scout, has contributed to introducing artists like Tina Gillen and Aline Bouvy while maintaining ongoing relationships with established artists such as Barthelemy Togo, Stephan Balkenhol, or Sylvie Blocher.
Not forgetting the Cercle Artistique du Luxembourg (CAL) (#3) and its annual salon that showcases local artists and the recent opening of Casino Display (#20), which provides young artists with a residency program and aims to connect students from various art schools in the Greater Region. Other equally important venues have chosen to move away from the historical center. Those interested in Korean culture can head to ArtsKoco Contemporary Art Gallery (#2), while the Camoes-Centre culturel Portugais (#18) presents Portuguese-speaking artists or artworks four times a year. In the gallery scene, François Ceysson and Loïc Bénétière have a monumental space of 1200 square meters that houses Bernar Venet's sculptures until November 18th (Ceysson & Bénétière, #4). Other highlights to discover on the Art Walk include a visit to the photography collection curated by the law firm Arendt & Medernach (Arendt & Art,#17) as well as the two exhibitions hosted this month by MUDAM (#23): one designed to highlight its permanent collection (Deep Deep Down), and the second, of a more experimental nature, showcasing performance art (After Laughter Comes Tears).
Beyond their natural role as meeting and socialising places, Luxembourg’s galleries have time and again proven their commitment to supporting emerging contemporary artists. Two of them stand out with a strong commitment to the local scene. In late 2021, Julie Reuter and Lou Bausch opened a gallery named after them, rue Notre-Dame in Luxembourg City. Lou is in charge of administration, while Julie is responsible for liaising with the artists. As partners in art and in life, Julie and Lou have made the choice to support young talented artists from Luxembourg and beyond. Their ground-breaking work has enabled the Luxembourg public to discover artists such as Pit Riewer, Lisa Kohl, Julie Wagener and Arny Schmit, to whom the gallery has recently devoted a solo exhibition (Au-delà de la nature). Several of the works shown at the gallery have joined permanent state or museum collections. In addition to its continuing support for the local art scene and young talent, Reuter Bausch Art Gallery gives pride of place to women in its programme of exhibitions – another way of positioning itself on the market while promoting inclusion. The gallery has also made a name for itself thanks to its convivial atmosphere and its proactive approach in familiarising audiences with contemporary art. Surely, the success it has been enjoying since its inception warrants the couple’s approach. "Luxembourg Art Walk advocates for citizen inclusion by making art more accessible, contributing to community engagement, and promoting culture, all while fostering a more open artistic dialogue. It's an initiative that enriches the city's cultural life and strengthens the ties between galleries and the local community," says Julie Reuter.
Another venue that has recently enriched Luxembourg’s cultural ecosystem is Valerius Gallery, which is best known for its close ties with the local scene. Now located on Place du Théâtre in Luxembourg City, it is run by gallery owner and collector Gérard Valerius and very active gallery director Lou Philipps, who is delighted to be part of the next edition of the Fair. She says, 'Thanks to LAW, we come into contact with other gallery owners and a different audience from what we usually encounter. Luxembourg is placed on the map of international fairs and attracts new players from around the world to the territory, including the press, curators, and collectors.’ Together, Gérard Valerius and Lou Philipps, founded the Young Luxembourgish Artists (YLA) association, a platform aimed at raising the profile of artists from the Grand Duchy by means of group exhibitions in changing venues around the city. Founded in 2021, its name was inspired by the Young British Artists movement, which put the likes of Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Tacita Dean on the international map... Working in partnership with Valerius Gallery, YLA plays a key role in advising, training and supporting up-and-coming artists, sometimes straight out of school. Using the techniques, themes and locations of their choice, they are encouraged to bring new aesthetic perspectives to the local landscape. Particular emphasis is placed on artists who have trained abroad (a common situation due to the lack of art schools in Luxembourg) by helping them to build a home base. In the long run, the initiative thus aims to contribute to growing the local artistic community.