New Photographic Exhibitions at FOMU Antwerp: Lee Miller, Katja Mater, and More
From February 28, 2025, the Photo Museum Antwerp (FOMU) welcomes visitors to experience four newly curated exhibitions. Spanning historic wartime journalism, experimental archival selections, and intimate contemporary storytelling, this seasonal program offers a comprehensive look at the diverse applications of the photographic medium.
Exploring the Historical Legacy of Lee Miller
Lee Miller in Print
February 28, 2025 – June 8, 2025
This presentation marks the first major retrospective in Belgium dedicated to the highly influential photographer Lee Miller (1907–1977). Known for her versatile career as a fashion model, surrealist artist, and frontline war correspondent, Miller carved a unique space for female photographers in the early to mid-20th century.
The exhibition focuses primarily on how her imagery and written reports were distributed through print media, including iconic publications like Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and LIFE Magazine. Visitors can observe her wartime documentation and look closely at how print publications of her era shaped public perception and, at times, served as political propaganda.
The exhibition is curated by Saskia van Kampen-Prein and Anne Ruygt, stemming from research conducted at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, and made possible via loans from the Lee Miller Archives. A bilingual publication in English and Dutch is available to purchase alongside the display.
Interactive Spatial Installations and Contemporary Voices
No Longer Not Yet: Katja Mater & the FOMU Collection
February 28, 2025 – February 22, 2026
Visual artist and filmmaker Katja Mater has been invited to delve deep into FOMU's extensive archives to curate a year-long spatial exhibition centered around the concept of time. The display examines how time is perceived through various lenses—ranging from cosmic and solar rhythms to personal memory and the physical body.
A central highlight of this exhibition is the integration of the museum’s restored Kaiserpanorama, a stereoscopic viewing device dating back to 1905 that historically allowed crowds to view three-dimensional images. Mater has produced 50 new stereoscopic photographs specifically for this device. Visitors can experience the moving Kaiserpanorama in action on the first Sunday of every month.
Mashid Mohadjerin: Spiraling Outward
February 28, 2025 – June 8, 2025
Iranian-Belgian artist Mashid Mohadjerin presents a multidisciplinary installation that layers photography, video works, collage, and text. The exhibition centers on themes of migration, resistance, and cultural shifts in the MENA region. It features her newest project, Riding in Silence & The Crying Dervish, which investigates masculinity and political ideology in relation to forced migration. The exhibition also displays her previous video works, offering an alternative, emotive look at social resistance across generations.
Chrystel Mukeba: FOMU Grant Exhibition
February 28, 2025 – May 4, 2025
Brussels-based photographer Chrystel Mukeba showcases her latest project, I’ve Never Seen My Father Cry. Realized through the support of the FOMU Grant, the exhibition captures an intimate journey to Kinshasa that Mukeba took with her father, marking his first return to the Democratic Republic of Congo in nearly five decades. Through analog portraiture, the display addresses the emotional complexities of the diaspora experience, identity, and silent family histories.
Planning Your Visit to the Photo Museum Antwerp
The museum is located in a converted historic warehouse in Antwerp’s Zuid (South) district, situated close to other major cultural landmarks like the M HKA. Visitors can round out their visit by stopping at the museum cafe or browsing the specialized bookshop.
To explore more cultural venues in the city or map out your next artistic itinerary, you can use the Musemap (musemap.art) platform to browse Antwerp museums or check the local exhibitions and whats-on listings to plan your next cultural excursion.
