Zeno X

Zeno X was a contemporary art gallery in Antwerp, Belgium, that operated from 1981 until its announced closure in 2023. Founded by Frank Demaegd and Eliane Breynaert, the gallery became one of the most significant European venues for figurative painting within contemporary art, representing an influential roster of international artists and maintaining a regular presence at major art fairs worldwide.

Zeno X was established in 1981 by Frank Demaegd and Eliane Breynaert in Antwerp. From its inception, the gallery concentrated on figurative painting within the context of contemporary art, a focus that distinguished it within the European gallery landscape. Demaegd remained the principal figure leading the gallery throughout its existence. Over four decades, Zeno X built an international reputation, regularly participating in major art fairs including Art Basel, Frieze in London, The Armory Show, and Art Basel Miami. On 2 July 2023, the gallery announced that it would close, marking the end of a significant chapter in Belgian and European contemporary art.

The gallery's program centered on innovative, primarily figurative painting, though its representation extended across multiple media including photography, installation, video, and sculpture. Zeno X cultivated a roster that balanced established figures with emerging voices, with particular strength in artists associated with the resurgence of figurative painting from the late 1980s onward. The gallery also represented American artists alongside its predominantly European base, reflecting an international outlook from its Antwerp location.

Zeno X represented a distinguished group of artists that included painter and filmmaker Michaël Borremans, photographer Dirk Braeckman, Belgian painter Raoul De Keyser, Canadian installation and video artist Stan Douglas, South African painter Marlene Dumas, American artist N. Dash, Chinese painter Yun-Fei Ji, Dutch installation artist and sculptor Mark Manders, Belgian fashion designer and artist Martin Margiela, Swedish artist Jockum Nordström, American painter Jenny Scobel, Belgian painter Luc Tuymans (since 1990), Belgian artist Patrick Van Caeckenbergh, Belgian multi-media artist Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven, and American painter Jack Whitten. The Dutch Wikipedia source additionally noted representation of Grace Schwindt and Mircea Suciu.

Zeno X was located in Antwerp, Belgium, and maintained an official website at www.zeno-x.com. The gallery was owned and led by Frank Demaegd following its founding partnership. Its active role in the contemporary art market was demonstrated through consistent participation in international art fairs. With the announcement of its closure on 2 July 2023, the gallery ceased wa no longer operational as a visiting venue.