Inuit – Impressions of the Canadian Far North

Contemporary Inuit art at the Museum

From 16 October 2026, the Museum presents a major exhibition dedicated to contemporary Inuit art from Nunavut and Nunavik, in the Canadian Arctic. Bringing together nearly 250 works – including sculptures, drawings and, above all, prints – the exhibition offers a panorama of around 70 years of artistic creation.

In Europe, Inuit art has long been associated primarily with sculpture. Yet Inuit artists have also developed a remarkable graphic tradition that remains relatively unfamiliar to European audiences, despite being widely recognised in Canada. One of its leading figures is Kenojuak Ashevak, whose work is notably featured on the Canadian $10 banknote.

The exhibition highlights artists with distinctive and powerful visual languages who, across several generations, have continually expanded and reinvented the forms and subjects of Inuit art. Particular attention is given to women artists, whose contribution to Inuit graphic art has been especially significant.

The voices of Inuit artists at the heart of the exhibition

Rather than taking an ethnographic approach focused solely on the description of a culture, the exhibition places the artists themselves at the centre of the story. The project reflects a museum practice that pays close attention to relationships with communities of origin and to the living voices that continue to shape, renew and question artistic practices in the Arctic today.

Shamanism, mythology, the polar night, Arctic wildlife and relationships with the land are presented alongside deeply contemporary themes such as social change, gender relations and climate change. Through their work, the artists explore their surroundings and engage with the realities of a world undergoing profound transformation.

Their voices are also present throughout the exhibition through the artists’ own comments on their works. The exhibition also introduces the different techniques used in their artistic practices, offering insight into how the works were created.

In doing so, it invites visitors to move beyond the stereotypes often associated with Inuit peoples and to discover artists with powerful and distinctive visual worlds, as well as a living, diverse and resolutely contemporary artistic practice.

A major cultural project

In scale, the exhibition is a first in Europe and ranks among the most significant exhibitions of contemporary Inuit art ever presented on the continent.

The exhibition draws in particular on the collection of writer and poet Carl Norac, alongside loans from Belgian and European museums. An immersive scenography and an extensive programme of activities – including workshops, lectures, film screenings, talks and cultural events – will complement the presentation of the works.

Admission prices

• €18: Standard admission
• €14: Aged 65 and over
• €9: Aged 18–25, jobseekers and recipients of social integration income
• Free admission: Under 18s, museumPASSmusées holders, BELSPO, ICOM and PROF cardholders, press cardholders, and European Disability Card holders (including one accompanying person)
• €1.25: Article 27 ticket holders

Reduced rates and free admission are available upon presentation of valid proof of eligibility.

Activities

Throughout the exhibition, the museum will offer a varied programme of activities for visitors of all ages.

• 17 October 2026 – Museum Night Fever
• 24 October 2026 – Event in collaboration with Davidsfonds (in Dutch)
• 26–30 October 2026 – Holiday camp for children aged 6–12 (in French)
• 2–6 November 2026 – Holiday camp for children aged 6–12 (in Dutch)
• 8 November and 13 December 2026, 10 January, 14 February, 14 March and 11 April 2027 – Lecture series
• 15 November 2026 – Kids' Art Day
• 19 November and 17 December 2026, 21 January, 18 February, 18 March and 15 April 2027 – Late-night openings
• 19 November and 17 December 2026, 21 January, 18 February, 18 March and 15 April 2027 – Guided tours
• 19 December 2026 – 3 January 2027 – Family activities during the Christmas holidays
• 8–12 February 2027 – Holiday camp for children aged 6–12 (in Dutch)
• 22–26 February 2027 – Holiday camp for children aged 6–12 (in French)
• 21 March 2027 – Inuitbabies: a family day for the youngest visitors

Explore the exhibition

• Let yourself be guided by the sound walk created by the artists of Créahmbxl. Download the ErfgoedApp and select the ‘Inuit’ tour. Take your time to listen and discover the artworks from a different perspective. The audio clips are complemented by texts written by co-curator Anne-Françoise Martin. An experience not to be missed! Remember to bring your own device and headphones.
• Kids, take up the challenge! Throughout the exhibition, you’ll find four activity tables. Give the animals a new coat of fur, transform fantastical creatures, try your hand at a traditional Inuit string game and crack the Inuktitut code!
• Fancy a little break? Make yourself comfortable in the iglu. Children can play, browse books or enjoy kamishibai storytelling. The tables also offer creative activities inspired by the exhibition.

Group visits

Book a guided tour and get even more out of your visit! Select the option that suits you to find out more:

• Adult groups: €120 for the guide + €14 per person (group admission ticket). Duration: 90 minutes.
• School groups: €105 for the guide + free admission for visitors under 19 / €9 per person for visitors aged 19–25. One accompanying adult goes free for every group of 15 participants. Duration: 90 minutes.
• Visitors who are blind or partially sighted: €120 for the guide. Free admission for visitors who are blind or partially sighted and one accompanying adult. Maximum of 7 participants, excluding accompanying adults. Duration: 90 minutes.

To book, please complete the booking form available on the page for your chosen option, at least 3 weeks in advance.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us by email.