MÂON Fair takes over Fall season with its first edition, taking place from October 16 to 19, 2025, in Brussels, driven by the vision of multidisciplinary artist Ôdewa. More than anything, it is a place for encounters and expression. This autumn in Brussels, let’s explore the essence and program of MÂON Fair’s inaugural edition.Une vision née à Bruxelles

A new art fair-event is making its debut on Brussels’ contemporary calendar this autumn. More than just a fair, MÂON Fair is above all a meeting ground. Its inaugural edition in Brussels this fall is driven by the vision of multidisciplinary artist Ôdewa. Conceived under the theme “Neither Margins nor Center,” MÂON Fair is, first and foremost, a manifesto for contemporary art by artists themselves. “The fair is neither a springboard nor a podium” — this is the vision upheld by its founder alongside the leadership team of Elozi Lomponda, Sheryl Goossens and Camille Rakotamalala. The event’s central aim is clear: to shift the frameworks, escape established norms, and circumvent existing institutional structures in order to amplify free and singular creation.

A Fair Championing Singularity

MAÔN Fair is conceived first and foremost as a space for expression and exchange, where artists fully occupy the place that is rightfully theirs. Under the vaulted ceilings of La Chapelle de Boondael — an emblematic venue in the Ixelles district, now a cultural center — the following artists are expected: Agnès Lalu, Océane Eliard, Mireille Asia Nyembo, Anastasie Langu Lawinner, Mumpesi Meso, Camille Rakotamalala, Aurélie Prestigiacomo, Diane Stordiau, Martine Grynberg, Geoffrey Winston (in collaboration with Koolkor), and Auriane Yougang (Africa Colours Gallery), each presenting powerful works.

Challenging Expected Narratives

In this regard, the fair offers a singular experience where storytelling is turned towards the artist—a choice that deeply questions the act of exhibiting and how we engage with art in the context of a fair. Highlights of the event include a performance by Océane Eliard, the presentation of an installation by New Zealand–based artist Sarah Bruford, and a talk led by Sandra Agbessi (Brussels African Arts Center).

Driven by an artist community, MAÔN Fair is a meeting place where identity takes the back seat, allowing the narrative of the work and the singularity of the artist to take center stage. All too often, identity or origin becomes a lens that imposes expected readings of creation.

MAÔN Fair also rejects the roles often imposed on artists. “All too often, artists are expected to tell where they come from, to embody fixed identities, or to produce predictable narratives about their origin, gender, or community,” emphasizes Ôdewa. Even when well-intentioned, these expectations can become a form of pressure. Here, identity is not the primary lens: the works themselves and the singularity of each artist’s practice are what matter most.

Rethinking the Space of Art

More than just a fair, MAÔN Fair seeks to be a welcoming ground—a porous, sensitive space. “I have a position, and my position is that the artist is at the center, beyond their skin color or geographic origin. That is where ‘Neither Margins nor Center’ stands. It is first and foremost about the artist, their skill, and their message,” affirms Ôdewa.

At La Chapelle de Boondael in Ixelles, MAÔN Fair will do more than simply display artworks. It serves as a gateway for encounters, inviting artists, the public, collectives, and independent organizations to imagine new ways of existing together within the art world. A fair, yes—but a fair that breaks the frame.

Neither Margin nor Center: A Bold Statement

By choosing this title, MAÔN Fair declares its ambition:

• to move beyond visible/invisible, legitimate/illegitimate, emerging/established dualities,

• to reject fixed centralizations—whether symbolic, geographic, or aesthetic,

• and above all, to rethink the artist’s place within the fair—not as a product, but as a presence to be fully welcomed.