Stephan Balkenhol, Stefaan De Croock 31.5.2026 - 02.11.2026 TALKING HEADS. Portraits with a story (1626-2026) | Kasteel d'Ursel

Dozens of centuries-old portraits of the d'Ursel family are side by side with the work of contemporary artists. From stately dukes to dreamy children, from modest servants to distinguished relatives, from melancholy figures to colorful heads: each portrait bears the traces of the time in which it was created and of whom was depicted. Face to face you discover the special story behind every face.

The exhibition starts with the oldest (1626) and the latest (2026) family portrait. Spread over the three floors of the castle, you will discover portraits of the d'Ursel family from the intervening four centuries. Also some lost, but recently returned portraits can be seen for the first time.

TALKING HEADS combines and confronts the centuries-old family portraits by Justus van Egmont, Charles-Pierre Verhulst, Philip de László, Joseph Vivien, Alexandre Delatour, Charles Le Clercq, Bernhard Seibert, Alexandre Thomas, Antonine de Mun, 6th Duchess d'Ursel, many lesser-known and some anonymous masters with work by more than fifty contemporary artists:

Mona Ardeleanu (DE), Omar Ba (SN), Stephan Balkenhol (DE), Raafat Ballan (SY), Lysandre Begijn (NL), Vilson Biçaku (AL), Michaël Borremans (BE), Daan Couzijn (E), Stefaan De Croock (BE), Mattias De Leeuw (BE), Iris Devriendt (BE), Alioune Diagne (BEL),