Pierre Alechinsky

In 2027, Pierre Alechinsky celebrates his hundredth birthday. The KMSKA pays tribute to this internationally renowned artist with a special exhibition devoted to The Last Day (1964), a monumental masterpiece in the museum’s collection. 

This impressive painting provides the starting point for an exploration of a pivotal period in Alechinsky’s career. A carefully curated selection of oil paintings and ink drawings dating from 1956 onwards highlights his artistic experimentation with oil paint and Indian ink.  

The exhibition also explores Alechinsky’s deep admiration for James Ensor (1860–1949). Both artists share an unbridled imagination, a playful approach to reality and a fascination with the grotesque and the unexpected. Ensor’s distinctive visual world remained a lasting source of inspiration for Alechinsky. 

Using The Last Day as its guiding thread, the exhibition offers a unique insight into Alechinsky’s multifaceted oeuvre, where movement, intuition and expressive freedom converge. An intimate yet powerful tribute to one of the most distinctive and influential artists of the twentieth century.