Seventeen years ago, Office Baroque opened its doors in a modernist Antwerp apartment, quietly rewriting the rules of Belgium’s gallery scene. Far from the glare of global art capitals, this space became a launchpad for artists who would later grace major collections and fairs worldwide. What set Office Baroque apart was its willingness to champion the experimental and the unexpected, offering a home to voices that didn’t fit the mainstream mold. The gallery’s journey took it from Antwerp’s diamond district to Brussels and back again, always adapting, always searching for new ways to connect art with audience. Yet, as the art world’s power centers grew ever larger, mid-sized galleries like Office Baroque found themselves squeezed by rising pressures and shifting ambitions. Their closure marks not just the end of a space, but a reminder of the fragile balance between creative independence and the relentless pace of the market. Sometimes, the boldest brushstrokes are the hardest to preserve. #BelgianArt #GalleryHistory #ContemporaryArt #Culture