For its ‘Object of the Month’ in May 2026, the Grand Curtius is shining a spotlight on the albums and sales catalogues of the Val Saint-Lambert crystal works. To mark the bicentenary of the factory, this valuable heritage is the subject of a major digitisation project in collaboration with the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, aimed at ensuring its preservation and online accessibility.
Saint Bartholomew, the martyred apostle, is often depicted holding a knife or his own skin. The Grand Curtius houses an expressive reliquary bust of the saint, dating from the 16th century and attributed to a Limburg artist influenced by Jan van Steffesweert. This work bears witness to the tradition of ‘speaking’ reliquaries and the devotion surrounding his relics in Europe.
This exhibition is brought to you by a trio of artists from Liège who have come together for the occasion under the name Les Gaillardes. The installation takes the form of a large table set to commemorate the centenary of the death of Léonie de Waha, a major figure in the history of Liège. On display in the Glass Gallery from 6 to 30 March 2026.
The consumption of hot beverages such as tea, coffee and chocolate became very fashionable among the bourgeoisie in the 18th century and was often a special moment in domestic life. This ritual gave rise to the development of so-called “lunch” services: a porcelain set comprising a tray matching the cups, for one or two people, hence the names “égoïste” (selfish) and “tête à tête” (one-on-one).
In the 19th century, certain defence mechanisms – ingenious but extremely dangerous – bore witness to an era when security was more a matter of DIY than technology. Come and discover them in our showcase for the object of the month for February 2026.
From 17 April to 27 September 2026, the Grand Curtius will host the exhibition ‘Japonism and Art Nouveau’, which is part of the bicentenary celebrations of Cristalleries du Val Saint-Lambert (1826-2026). Around 150 works showcasing the aesthetics and techniques experimented with and developed by Val Saint-Lambert during its golden age (1880 to 1914) will be on display.
Discover the object of the month for December 2025, dedicated to Val Saint-Lambert.
Today, nearly six hundred pieces belonging to the Liège Archaeological Institute are on display in the permanent exhibition at the Grand Curtius, with thousands more in storage. A selection of around 250 items, not always the least important, from these reserves will be presented, sometimes for the first time, in the exhibition organised by the Grand Curtius in autumn 2025, to mark the 175th anniversary of the IAL. The primary aim of this exhibition is to showcase the diversity of the collections that have been built up over time thanks to friends of Liège's past who were keen to preserve evidence of that past. 26.09.2025 > 01.02.2026 (EXTENSION)
The Grand Curtius in the heart of Liège is an invitation to discover major works of Belgian heritage, including many classified as “Treasures of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation”. This rare distinction underlines their outstanding historical, artistic and cultural value.
From 16th May to 31st August 2025, the Grand Curtius will host the ‘AIPOTU’ exhibition devoted to Françoise Schein. This militant plastic artist, who was born in Brussels in 1953, is renowned for her monumental artistic contributions that combine architecture and art, ceramic frescos and other public works, tracing a network between the world’s cities such as Brussels, Liège, Paris, Lisbon, Berlin, Stockholm, London, New York, Ramallah, Haifa, Haiti, Barcelona and Rio de Janeiro, among others.