HAPPENING 11 July–24 August 2025 | The Brutus Space in Rotterdam will host the Wild Summer of Art exhibition, showcasing works from 50 local artists. The event will include a range of public programmes, screenings, and performances.
Photo credit: Laura Siliquini
Wild Summer of Art returns to Brutus this July
The third edition of Wild Summer of Art will take place from 11 July to 24 August 2025 at Brutus in the M4H area of Rotterdam. This year's theme, Traces We Keep (Sporen die we bewaren), focuses on the physical and emotional remnants left behind by events, individuals and cultural shifts.
The large-scale exhibition will present work by fifty artists, including emerging talent, mid-career practitioners and established names from Rotterdam’s contemporary scene. Curators Yannik Güldner and Jeanette Bisschops have shaped the programme, which spans Brutus’s 6,000 m² space of raw, industrial halls and cavernous ruins.
The theme: Traces We Keep
The 2025 edition takes the building itself as a starting point. Brutus, with its visibly aged structures and ruinous features, plays a central role in communicating the exhibition's focus on memory and transformation. The title Traces We Keep refers to both physical remnants and emotional imprints, asking questions such as: What do we carry forward from the past? and What will we ourselves leave behind?
According to the curators, the space and artworks collectively form “a conversation between what was and what could have been.” The exhibition uses art to engage with memory as a creative force, evoking the words of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish: “Memory is the scar of history.”
Wild Summer of Art 2024. Photographer: Laura Siliquini
Curators
Yannik Güldner, born in Germany and now based in The Hague, works independently as a curator and artistic programmer. He is also currently involved with the artist-run platform iii (instrument inventors initiative), known for supporting interdisciplinary work across performance, sensory experience and technology.
Jeanette Bisschops splits her time between New York and Amsterdam. A curator and writer, she has previously worked at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and the New Museum in New York. Currently affiliated with Performa, the biennial for visual art performance, she also runs Performance Talks, a forum for critical discourse in the field.
Artists selected by community scouts
The selection of artists for this edition was carried out with input from a group of local scouts active in various corners of the Rotterdam arts ecosystem. Names include Golnar Abbasi, Amber Bas, Maarten Bel, Reinier Landwehr, and Isabelle Sully, among others. The approach is intended to reflect diverse curatorial perspectives and strengthen connections across artistic communities.
Wild Summer of Art 2024. Photographer: Laura Siliquini
Performances and interventions
In addition to the exhibition, Wild Summer of Art will feature an ongoing programme of live performances, interventions and musical happenings. These will unfold across the site throughout the summer, contrasting with more static exhibition formats and keeping the experience in flux.
Brutus Takeover returns
Following last year's pilot, the Brutus Takeover initiative will return in 2025. Through an open call open until 18 May, seven selected artists will be given full access to the entrance hall of Brutus, known as Het Bureel, for a week each.
This rotating platform allows artists to experiment freely, whether through temporary installations, try-out performances, workshops or pop-up exhibitions. Visitors can expect something different each week throughout the summer.
Summer side programme
In parallel with the main exhibition, Brutus will offer a side programme featuring workshops, talks, food, music and more. These activities aim to create informal opportunities for engagement, reflection and community building within the arts.
About Brutus
Founded in 2008 by artist Joep van Lieshout, Brutus describes itself as an Artist Driven Playground rather than a traditional museum. Located in the west of Rotterdam, it offers large-scale spaces for experimentation in all disciplines, from sculpture to immersive installations.
Brutus comprises two foundations: Brutus Base, which handles projects related to Atelier Van Lieshout, and Brutus Space, which manages broader collaborations. In addition to exhibitions, the organisation runs a residency programme and the Brutus Prijs.
Practical information
The grand opening of Wild Summer of Art takes place on Friday 11 July 2025, from 20:00 to 01:00, in collaboration with Operator Radio. The exhibition runs until 24 August 2025 and is open Thursday through Sunday from 12:00 to 18:00. Admission tickets can be reserved via brutus.stager.co.
All artworks shown are available for sale, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to the artists.
Brutus. Photo credit: Tamara Cieremans
Directions to Brutus
Brutus is located at Keileweg 10 in the M4H port area in western Rotterdam. This industrial area is known for its creative and cultural spaces. Visitors can reach Brutus by public transport or car, with parking available nearby.
