A joyful and intimate look at African identity

Located in the majestic Bozar – in the heart of the royal district in Brussels – the exhibition When We See Us offers a deep and radiant dive into a century of African and Afro-diasporic figurative painting.

Bringing together the works of 120 artists from the continent and the diaspora, it questions and celebrates Black life in all its dimensions: the small gestures of daily life, rest, sensuality, spirituality, joy, and triumph.

A scenography conceived as a narrative

Six main themes structure the exhibition:

• Everyday life
• Rest
• Joy & celebrations
• Sensuality
• Spirituality
• Triumph & emancipation

The fluid scenography, enhanced by the immersive soundtrack by Neo Muyanga, invites you to slow down and truly look.
You will discover vibrant portraits, intimate or festive scenes, dancing bodies, direct and tender gazes.

What we enjoyed during our visit

When We See Us is a moving experience.
It invites us to slow down, to feel, to recognize ourselves in stories that may seem distant, but are always deeply human.Each theme evokes a familiar emotion: the sweetness of a well-deserved rest, the joy of being together, the power of a free gaze.

Our favorites:
• Moments of family tenderness, simple and moving
• Bodies in motion dancing, bursting with color and freedom
• That rare and delightful feeling of identification, beyond origins and individual stories.

When We See Us carries a powerful message: Black joy resists and it is political; a way of existing differently in the world.
An emotion that resonates deeply with our approach, where craftsmanship also becomes a common language, between blended materials, shared heritages, and collective gestures.

📌 Practical information

📍 Bozar, Rue Ravenstein 23, Brussels
🗓 Until August 10, 2025
🕒 Summer hours: From  Tuesday to Sunday, from 11am to 7pm
🎟 Standard rate: €18 (combined rates & reduced rates available)

All the practical information to get there