Reflecting on 2025 and Embracing 2026 at Xochi Art Gallery

Located in the serene setting of Vale de Amoreira, Portugal, Xochi Art Gallery has quickly established itself as a vibrant hub for contemporary art. As we transition from a year of profound exploration into one of focused celebration, we look back at the milestones of 2025 and forward to the ambitious programming set for 2026.

2025: A Year of Discovery and Dialogue

The gallery’s inaugural year was defined by its commitment to showcasing diverse international voices and mediums through a series of landmark exhibitions:

• "Portugal Now!" (April 19 – May 13, 2025): Our celebratory debut featured seven outstanding Portuguese artists: Mario Henrique, João Marques, Thierry Ferreira, Tatyana Cristina, Unknownezqui, Francisco Figueiredo Lopes, and Miguel Basto. The exhibition introduced the community to a captivating mix of paintings, indoor sculptures, and striking outdoor installations.

• "Sculpted Visions" (May 17 – June 12, 2025): Sculpted Visions brought together photographer Julien Dumont and sculptor Matti Dubee. The show focused on the transformation of material, featuring Dumont’s interplay of light and shadow alongside Dubee’s pioneering "Dali Paper" technique, which reimagines disposable newspaper as monumental, stone-like forms.

• "Make ART Not War!" (June 28 – August 7, 2025): A powerful solo exhibition by critically acclaimed Belgian artist Roger Remaut. Born in 1942 during the Nazi occupation of Ostend, Remaut presented raw, weathered mixed-media works that served as a symbol of artistic defiance and renewal.

• "Fragments of Humanity" (August 10 – September 3, 2025): This international group exhibition united seven visionary artists: Bel Mur (Spain), TROY (Belgium), Henrique Netto (Brazil), Eduardo Rangel (Venezuela), James Peter Henry (Australia), Karen Jordan (America), and REMAUT. (Belgium). Together, they explored the complexities of existence, from transhumanist critiques to personal liberation.

• "Verdant Echoes" (September 7 – October 31, 2025): The year concluded with a solo exhibition by British artist Sandra Jane Heard. Through ink on paper and sculptural forms born from global lockdown introspection, Heard reflected on the delicate balance of nature, capturing the life, decay, and regeneration of ancient trees.

2026: The Year of The Remaut Collection

Moving forward, Xochi Art Gallery is transitioning from broad surveys to a deep, year-long study of a single master. 2026 is officially dedicated to "The Remaut Collection," an ambitious program exploring over five decades of Roger Remaut's career. At 83 years old, Remaut remains a vital force, and this program reaffirms the gallery’s commitment to artists of enduring significance.

The 2026 season will feature four distinct thematic exhibitions, each examining a different phase of Remaut’s evolving practice:

1. "Into Abstraction" (January 15 — March 31, 2026): Focusing on his Early Works (1980—96), this exhibition highlights Remaut’s definitive departure from figuration. It serves as a study of pure form and the physical properties of the structured, material surface.

2. "New Horizons" (April 05 — June 12, 2026): This presentation covers The UK Period (1997—99). A move to England during this time was marked by an expansion of scale and color, demonstrating a vibrant engagement with new environments and material refinement.

3. "Form of Figuration" (Summer 2026 - TBA): Examining his Return to Belgium (2000—23), these works showcase mature abstraction reflecting global political undercurrents. They channel world tensions through sophisticated compositional authority and rigor.

4. "Transcendence" (Autumn 2026 - TBA): The final chapter focuses on his current period in Portugal (2024—present). This phase represents a shift toward intimate compositions where Remaut maintains the structural precision and expressive depth that characterize his lifetime of abstraction.

Whether you are a seasoned collector or a curious visitor, the 2026 season at Xochi Art Gallery promises an unparalleled look into the evolution of contemporary abstract art through the lens of one of Belgium's most distinctive artists.