Collection Andries-Vanlouwe Foundation

About the Andries-Vanlouwe Foundation

For more than three decades, Jan Andries (1933-2015) and Lieve Vanlouwe (1936-2021) were pivotal figures in the operations and organization of the Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens (MDD). Their dedication as members of the board of MDD not only shaped the museum’s trajectory but also established them as significant patrons of various exhibitions and artistic endeavors.

In 2013, they founded the Andries-Vanlouwe Foundation with the aim of preserving their remarkable art collection and making it accessible to the public. Additionally, they envisioned the Foundation as a platform to promote and support cultural and educational initiatives.

A forward-looking Collaboration

Prior to her passing in 2021, Lieve Andries outlined a declaration of intent to formalize the partnership between the Foundation and MDD. Through a generous bequest, she also fulfilled her long-held aspiration to expand the museum’s exhibition space.

The goals of the Foundation and the legacy of Jan and Lieve Andries-Vanlouwe intersect in three fundamental pillars of MDD’s mission:

The Collection

In January 2023, an agreement was reached between the Andries-Vanlouwe Foundation and MDD, facilitating a loan arrangement for a selection of works from the collection including artworks by Pierre Alechinsky, Bram Bogart, Michaël Borremans, Lawrence Carroll, Lynn Chadwick, Lucio Fontana, Isa Genzken, Hans Hartung, Zhang Huan, Imi Knoebel, Eugène Leroy, René Magritte, Robert Mangold, Tatsuo Miyajima, Nic Nicosia, Panamarenko, Serge Poliakoff, Gerhard Richter, Mark Rothko, Michel Seuphor, Léon Spilliaert, Thomas Struth, Mitja Tušek, Luc Tuymans, Koen van den Broek, Jan Van Imschoot, Jef Verheyen and Marthe Wéry.

The opening of MDD’s new annexe in the autumn of 2024 will feature the exhibition Eloquent Formalism, curated by Nicolaus Schafhausenand and will be the first public display of a broad selection from the collection.

Cultural Education as a Core Value

Inspired by the social ethos of MDD’s founders Jules and Irma Dhondt-Dhaenens, Jan and Lieve Andries-Vanlouwe envisioned the Foundation as a supporter of MDD’s educational endeavors. Through this collaboration, MDD can expand its educational programs and community engagement initiatives, aligning with its broader societal mission.

Renovation and the Renewed Annexe

Jan and Lieve’s shared vision of expanding the MDD museum is now materializing, thanks to a bequest. Their contribution facilitates the second phase of renovations and the construction of a new annexe, enhancing the museum’s exhibition capacity.