Almine Rech opened her first gallery in 1989, partnering with Cyrille Putman, the son of designer Andrée Putman. They named it Galerie Froment-Putman. Radically, their inaugural exhibition featured just a single work: Blood Lust, by James Turrell.

Before that, Rech had worked behind the scenes, researching provenance at Parisian auction houses and advising friends on buying and selling art. In 1997, she founded her eponymous gallery on Rue Louise Weiss, in Paris’s 13th arrondissement, launching a program that included artists like Ugo Rondinone, John McCracken, and Joseph Kosuth alongside Turrell. She’s expanded steadily since, with outposts now in Brussels, London, New York, Shanghai, Gstaad, and Monaco, and a roster that includes Jeff Koons and the estate of Tom Wesselmann.

Here, the dealer shares her guide to Brussels, where she lived for several years with her husband, Bernard Ruiz-Picasso, in a three-story Art Deco villa.

The interior of Au Savoy, in Brussels.

AU SAVOY

Located in the Ixelles district, Au Savoy offers refined Belgian cuisine in a sophisticated setting, blending tradition with contemporary finesse. (ausavoy.be)

AU VIEUX SAINT-MARTIN

An institution on Place du Grand Sablon, this celebrated brasserie serves timeless Belgian classics, making it a favorite among connoisseurs. (auvieuxsaintmartin.be)

The stately Corinthia hotel.

Corinthia Brussels

This five-star palace blends Belle Époque grandeur with contemporary luxury. It is conveniently located in the city center and promises impeccable service and a refined retreat. (corinthia.com)

Confessions

A hidden gem in the heart of Brussels, Confessions is known for its expertly crafted drinks and intimate ambiance, offering a true haven for cocktail enthusiasts. (confessionscocktail.com)

An installation by the French artist Daniel Buren in Villa Empain.

Boghossian Foundation

Set in the stunning Villa Empain, the Boghossian Foundation fosters cultural dialogue between East and West. Last year, for example, it hosted Water, an exhibition dedicated to the South Korean artist Kim Tschang-Yeul, renowned for his poetic depictions of water droplets. (villaempain.com)

Bozar, Centre for Fine Arts

Currently on view at Bozar is “When We See Us,” a remarkable retrospective of 20th- and 21st-century Black figurative painting. It showcases works by over 100 artists, including Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe, celebrating the richness and diversity of Black artistry. Such beauty is typical of Bozar, an event space that also puts on concerts, performances, films, talks, and debates. (bozar.be)

La Loge

This art space has exhibited contemporary work, as well as architecture and theory, since opening its doors in 2012. Last year, it hosted “Write as the Beasts Cry at Night,” a show by Thu-Van Tran that explored themes of memory, migration, and materiality and received praise for its depth and poetic sensibility. (la-loge.be)

A view of the Vanhaerents Art Collection.

Vanhaerents Art Collection

A passion project initiated by the art collector Walter Vanhaerents in the 1970s, this family-run collection is home to a bold array of contemporary pieces. Housed in a converted industrial building, it reflects the founder’s commitment to cutting-edge artistic expression. (vanhaerentsartcollection.com)

Photos: © Almine Rech/Photo: Oleg Kovian; Courtesy of Au Savoy; Courtesy of Corinthia Brussels; Peter Cavanagh/Alamy; Courtesy of the Vanhaerents Art Collection, Brussels