New Art Center for Brussels - Center for Contemporary Non-Objective Art, managed by Petra Bunged, opens in Brussels, Belgium - Brief Article

A new center focusing on contemporary nonobjective art has opened in Brussels. The brainchild of Petra Bunged, it actually extends the program of a commercial gallery that she ran in New York from 1995 to 1997. Located in a former factory building in downtown Brussels, the newly renovated 2,100-square-foot space houses two main galleries, a project room and a graphics room, in addition to an indoor courtyard.

Bungert relocated to Brussels and last October opened a gallery for conceptually based abstract work that is typically difficult to market. In what seems a logical move, she then petitioned for nonprofit status, restructured the gallery's activities and hired a small staff. Now called the Center for Contemporary Non-Objective Art the operation receives U.S. funding from private, corporate and public sponsors. Guy de Bellefroid, director of the Foundation for the Arts in Brussels, and Christian Kieckens, an architect in Aalst, Belgium, were brought on to serve with Bunged as board directors and founding members. Other founding members are Sydney art dealer Barbara Flynn and Jennie Prebor, former public affairs and development director at P.S. 1 and now associate director of development at the Whitney Museum.

Bungert has also initiated a graphics program featuring artists' publications, an annual on-site commission for the courtyard and an education program. The CCNOA opens its season with exhibitions by John Nixon and Ingolfur Arnarsson. Other artists slated for the coming year are Cecile Bart, Joan Waltemath, Jeanine Cohen, Christophe Cuzin and Tadaaki Kuwayama.