Roeselare (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The exhibition “Goodbye, Mister Raveel!” opens October 24, 2024, in Roeselare, featuring 30 artworks by Roger Raveel, including 16 from his museum and contributions from Marnix Meersdom.
As VRT News reported, the exhibition “Goodbye, Mister Raveel!” opens on Friday, Oct 24, 2025, in Roeselare as a tribute to the famous Flemish artist Roger Raveel. Raveel was one of Belgium’s leading post-war painters, known for combining everyday life with bright colors and abstract forms. The show presents 30 artworks, including 16 from the Roger Raveel Museum and 14 from private collections.
How does Roeselare celebrate Roger Raveel with aycling and Art?
The theme of the exhibition, “The Wheel,” was chosen to link Raveel’s work with Roeselare’s strong cycling culture.
“Cycling is in our city’s DNA,”
said Mieke Vanbrussel, Alderman for Culture (CD&V).
“Raveel’s art, which often includes bicycles and carts, fits perfectly with our city.”
A special addition to the exhibition comes from Marnix Meersdom, a resident of Roeselare, who is lending one of his own Roger Raveel paintings to the show. The artwork, titled “Solidarity,” portrays a woman caring for a man in bed. He mentioned that the piece reflects Raveel’s focus on everyday life and the emotional strength found in simple scenes.
Marnix Meersdom:
“I received it as a token of appreciation for my work with the socialist mutual health insurance fund. It’s been hanging in my hallway for years. I’m happy to lend it for the exhibition. Everyone should have the opportunity to see art.”
The exhibition “Goodbye, Mister Raveel!” opens on Friday, October 24, 2025, and runs until Sunday, January 4, 2026, at Ter Posterie in the center of Roeselare. The gallery will be open to visitors from Wednesday to Sunday, between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Officials mentioned that the event is expected to attract a wide audience, offering a rare chance to see Raveel’s work while his museum in Machelen-aan-de-Leie is closed for renovation.
Roger Raveel was born on July 15, 1921, in Machelen-aan-de-Leie, a small town in East Flanders. He received his education from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent between 1939 and 1945, and subsequently became one of Belgium’s most celebrated modern painters. In the 1950s, he played a role in developing the New Vision movement that addressed ordinary life and modern contexts.
The Roger Raveel Museum, designed by architect Stéphane Beel, opened in 1999 in his hometown to showcase his work. Raveel died on January 30, 2013. The museum started major renovation works in mid-2024, expected to finish by June 2025.
