OpenArtExchange

20/06/2026

Join us for the opening of Sacred on Saturday 27 June at 15:00 h

We are delighted to present works by Sébastien Boko, Rachel Malaika, and Thierry Tomety

During the opening, Sébastien Boko will be present for an artist talk, sharing insights into the works he created during his residency at our gallery.

The afternoon will also feature live music by Schiedam guitarist Vincent Janse

We look forward to welcoming you to celebrate this special exhibition with us

30/04/2026

CASCA WEEK at OpenArtExchange

During King’s Day, we opened this short special exhibition. Casca Week puts Casca’s work at the center, a layered exploration of history, identity, and imagination through powerful visual storytelling.

For this occasion, selected works are available at special prices. A good moment not only to visit, but also to collect.

CASCA WEEK bij OpenArtExchange

Tijdens Koningsdag openden we deze korte, speciale tentoonstelling met werk van Casca, een gelaagde verkenning van geschiedenis, identiteit en verbeelding, vertaald naar krachtige beelden.

Speciaal voor deze gelegenheid zijn geselecteerde werken beschikbaar tegen aangepaste prijzen. Een goed moment dus om niet alleen te kijken, maar ook te verzamelen.

25/04/2026

You’re invited to The Odyssey, a new exhibition at OpenArtExchange

The Odyssey brings together the work of Princess Keirath, Richard Late Lawson-Body and Patrick Musombwa.

The exhibition explores the human journey through existence: the search for meaning, navigating adversity, and creating personal and collective spaces within a vast and mysterious universe.

Through different visual languages ranging from abstraction to detailed symbolic compositions, each artist engages with a different dimension of this shared journey, their own Odyssey.

Patrick Musombwa will also be present during the opening.

Join us on May 2 for the opening at OpenArtExchange in Schiedam.

May 2, 2026
15:30
OpenArtExchange, Schiedam

With a live performance by
Admission is free, everyone is welcome
keirath.zato .nl

11/04/2026

We warmly invite you to the opening of our group exhibition “The Odyssey” on Saturday, May 2 at 3:30 pm at OpenArtExchange. Join us for drinks, bites, and a unique live performance by singer-songwriter Jasmijn Wagenaar , presenting her original compositions.

Featuring works by three african contemporary artists: Patrick Musombwa, Princesse Keirath, and Richard Laté Lawson-Body, this exhibition explores humanity’s journey through existence: the search for meaning, the navigation of adversity, and the creation of personal and collective spaces in a vast, mysterious universe.

Through distinct visual languages, ranging from abstraction to symbolic and figurative compositions, each artist engages with a different dimension of this shared journey, their own Odyssey.

Visit the link in our bio for more information.

OpenArtExchange, Hoogstraat 85, Schiedam

1. Richard Laté Lawson-Body, Dans le Bleu Infini, 2024, Acrylic on Canvas, 100 x 130 cm

2. Patrick Musombwa, La Main qui Protège I (The hand that protects), Patrick Musombwa, 2026, Mixed Media on Canvas, 130x97cm

3. Princesse Keirath, Sina Boko Gaani, The Gaani Codex Series, 2024, Mixed media on Canvas, 125x100cm

Patrick Musombwa Richard Laté Lawson-body Princess Kéïrath Zato Jw Schiedam De Schiedammer Online ONTDEK SCHIEDAM | S'DAM 💛 .24 Schiedam Tips

25/03/2026

We received the sad, sad news that our artist Julien Degan has passed away. Our sincere condolences from all of us at OpenArtExchange go out to his family and friends.

I carry so many personal good memories: His beautiful duo solo at the residence of the Dutch ambassador in Cotonou, his pure joy in creating (finally fulltime after retiring from teaching), wood hunting in the cold October rain, burning crates of wood at my sisters’ farm, his trio expo Down to earth in Schiedam, his endless curiosity, always eager to discover the world around him, his absolute love for blues music, visiting the City museum of contemporary art in Amsterdam, drinking a beer in front of his house, surrounded by his art works. His warm, enthusiastic demeanor and everlasting great smile will be missed dearly. I regret that I did not make the time to visit Bohicon last month when I was in Benin. It is hard to believe he is not there anymore.

Life was not always easy, rest in peace my dear friend, we will all remember you and your art.

C’est avec une immense tristesse que nous avons appris le décès de notre artiste Julien Degan. Toute l’équipe d’OpenArtExchange présente ses plus sincères condoléances à sa famille et à ses amis.

Je garde de si beaux souvenirs : son magnifique solo en duo à la résidence de l’ambassadeur des Pays-Bas à Cotonou, sa joie pure de créer (enfin à plein temps après sa retraite de l’enseignement), nos sorties à la recherche de bois sous la pluie froide d’octobre, les bûches brûlées à la ferme de ma sœur, son exposition en trio à Down to earth à Schiedam, sa curiosité insatiable pour le monde qui l’entourait, son amour profond pour le blues, notre visite au Musée d’art contemporain d’Amsterdam, les bières dégustées devant sa maison, entouré de ses œuvres. Sa chaleur, son enthousiasme et son sourire radieux nous manqueront terriblement. Je regrette de n’avoir pas pu visiter Bohicon le mois dernier lors de mon séjour au Bénin. Il est difficile de croire qu’il n’est plus là.

La vie n’a pas toujours été facile. Repose en paix, mon cher ami. Nous nous souviendrons de toi et de ton art.

Joke Bakker Luna de Schepper Elvira Van Bronckhorst Nadine Jongeling Victoire van der Woude

05/03/2026

08/02/2026

Today is the last day of Talk Melanin in Brussels

Grateful for the inspiring conversations, meaningful encounters, and all the beautiful energy shared over the past weeks. Thank you to everyone who came by!

We are open until 18 h

19/01/2026

We warmly invite you to join us for New Year’s drinks and the opening of newest group exhibition, Hello 2026!, on Saturday, 24 January at 4 PM at OpenArtExchange.

Featuring works by five African contemporary artists: Armand Boua, Demba Camara, Casca, Rafiy Okefolahan, and Josélyna Pemba, this exhibition presents highlights of our collection and aims to bring together hopeful narratives for the year ahead of us. As the beginning of 2026 has already been marked by political turmoil and unprecedented world events, Hello 2026! hopes to show that another world is possible. The artists in this exhibition explore individual stories that illuminate broader social realities, and inspire hope for the future we can shape together. Each of the five featured artists brings a fresh vision, reimagining materials and ideas in hopeful, imaginative ways, perfectly fitting the spirit of beginnings and change.

Visit the link in our bio for more information.

OpenArtExchange, Hoogstraat 85, Schiedam

1. Armand Boua, Enfant en Mouvement II, 2024, Mixed media on Canvas, 125x105cm
2. Rafiy Okefolahan, Porteur de Charge, Porteur de Rêve I, 2024, Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 155x100cm
3. Demba Camara, Kiti Balo, 2024, Mixed media, 50x25x20.5cm
4. Joselyna Pemba, Ndona dya Kalunga (Queen of Love), 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 90x70cm
5. Casca, Fishwife, 2022, Acrylic on Canvas, 105x85cm



.nl .24

14/01/2026

We’re excited to kick off the new year at OpenArtExchange with the first edition of TALK MELANIN in Brussels!

Carefully curated in collaboration with African contemporary art collectors Mattia & Bettina Starace Kashiama, TALK MELANIN brings together artists, galleries, curators, and collectors to celebrate the richness and diversity of African contemporary art.

From 16 January to 8 February 2026, as main partner of this inaugural edition, OpenArtExchange presents a powerful selection of contemporary works, from heavily textured abstract oils by Henri Kalama and Kingsley Ogwara, to detailed symbolic paintings by Sanda Amadou, and a selection of sculptures by Freddy Tsimba, Benjamin Deguenon and Elise Tokoudagba.

TALK MELANIN takes place at TALK C.E.C, a unique art space in the heart of Brussels, housed in a former porcelain and architectural ceramics factory dating back to 1804, where industrial heritage meets contemporary creativity.

Join us and experience the energy of contemporary African art in the heart of Brussels!


cec

28/11/2025

Laatst mochten we Rotary Club Rotterdam Alexander verwelkomen in onze galerie. Het was een mooie avond waarin kunst, ontmoeting en cultuur samenkwamen.

We ontvingen de groep met een warm Afrikaans buffet van , waarna onze oprichter Joke Bakker-Jansen vertelde over de missie en het ontstaan van OpenArtExchange: het creëren van ruimte voor hedendaagse Afrikaanse kunstenaars en het vergroten van diversiteit binnen de internationale kunstwereld.

Daarna verkenden we samen de collectie door beide etages van de galerie. Het was mooi om te zien hoe nieuwsgierig en betrokken de aanwezigen waren, terwijl wij met veel plezier toelichting gaven op de werken en verhalen van onze kunstenaars.

Rotary Club Rotterdam Alexander, dank voor jullie bezoek en de inspirerende avond!

ENG
Recently, we had the pleasure of welcoming Rotary Club Rotterdam Alexander to our gallery. It was a wonderful evening where art, connection, and culture came together.

We greeted the group with a warm African buffet from , after which our founder, Joke Bakker-Jansen, spoke about the mission and origins of OpenArtExchange: creating space for contemporary African artists and increasing diversity within the international art world.

We then explored the collection together across both floors of the gallery. It was lovely to see how curious and engaged the guests were, while we happily provided context about the works and stories of our artists.

Rotary Club Rotterdam Alexander, thank you for your visit and the inspiring evening!