Art Antwerp

What Drives Collectors: Artist vs. Artwork (EN)
Talk on Sunday 14 December — 4 PM

With Louis-Philippe Van Eeckhoutte (moderator), Alejandra Castro Rioseco (MIA Art Collection) & Casper van der Kruk

About the Talk:

What motivates a collector to acquire a work of art? Is it the emotional encounter with a specific artwork, or does the artist’s identity, vision, and personal relationship with the collector play a bigger role? This conversation explores the nuanced interplay between artistic intent, collector passion, and the personal connections that influence collecting practices.

Alejandra Castro Rioseco, founder of the MIA Art Collection, focuses exclusively on works by female artists—a deliberate feminist strategy that turns her collection into an act of advocacy and philanthropy. Her mission will soon expand with the opening of an artist residency in Antwerp. How does gender shape art production and collecting today?

For Casper van der Kruk, personal relationships are central. His collection thrives on emotional resonance and genuine friendships with artists—connections that guide what ultimately enters his Sgabello Collection.

Moderated by curator and critic Louis-Philippe Van Eeckhoutte, this discussion sheds light on the motivations, values, and intimate dynamics that shape the world of collecting.

Speaker Biographies:

Louis-Philippe Van Eeckhoutte 

Louis-Philippe Van Eeckhoutte is a Belgium-based curator, consultant, and critic. He has curated projects for institutions and galleries including White Columns (New York), Z33 (Hasselt), dépendance (Brussels), and Carlier Gebauer (Berlin). He has been the curatorial advisor for the ’68 Forward section at Art Brussels since 2019, championing both established and underrecognized artists. 
 He has lectured at KU Leuven, the University of Oregon, and the Misk Art Institute, and currently serves as an Associate Lecturer at the Royal College of Art in London. 

Alejandra Castro Rioseco  

Graduated in Civil Engineering and dedicated to philanthropy for the last 15 years. 
A convinced feminist with base in Dubai where she lives with her family, Belgium and Spain. “Change the role of a woman and change the world” and “Philanthropy opposite to solidarity is the obligation of the more fortunate” are Alejandra´s motto. 
The three main pillars of her engagement are Gender Empowerment & Rights, Education, Arts & Technology. She founded MIA Art Collection, the leading private art collection of exclusively women contemporary artists, dedicated to promoting and supporting women artists and women art programs globally. MIA ART Collection is considered leader in striving for gender equality in the arts. 
Alejandra has participated in numerous international organizations and on Board of Directors, including the Board of the worldwide International Chopin Society Federation headquartered in Warsaw, Poland, the Board of the Museo del Barrio in (2015-2019); Guggenheim Museum acquisition committees in NY for Latin America and Abu Dhabi for Middle East; and the Board of the prestigious International Jose Limon Ballet, based in New York. 
 Her commitment to build towards a better and more harmonious and balanced society is expressed through her active engagement with global private and multilateral organizations (UN, UNDP, OIT) protecting the environment (MERI, 2017). 

www.MIAartcollection.org  

Casper van der Kruk 

Casper van der Kruk bought his first work in 2002 at Galerie Fons Welters, sparking his passion for contemporary art. Over the years, he has built the Sgabello Collection, which now includes around 300 works by both emerging and established artists. “Sgabello” is the Italian word for a small (Renaissance) stool, and since his family name is van der Kruk and Italy is his favorite holiday destination, he felt “Sgabello Collection” sounded nicer than “van der Kruk Collection.” His collection reflects his dual nature: meticulous and serious, yet also impulsive and emotional. Van der Kruk studied art history and regularly attends major international art fairs, while maintaining personal friendships with the artists he collects. He is known for his unpretentious approach: he buys from emotion, not fame.

Location: Tribune