The Almaty Museum of Arts is Central Asia’s first private museum of modern art of international standing. Designed by the architectural firm Chapman Taylor, the museum building is conceived as a dynamic space and a venue for dialogue, featuring spacious exhibition halls, an adaptable atrium and a lecture hall.

The monarchs were accompanied by museum founder Nurlan Smagulov, museum director Tatyana Khojayeva and artistic director Meruyert Kaliyeva. The first stop was the exhibition "Mūsınder: Sculpture of Kazakhstan from the 1950s to the Present Day," which traces how the form and self-identity of Kazakh art have evolved over seven decades.

Their Majesties The King and The Queen of the Belgians at the Musinder exhibition

In the permanent collection halls, the guests were shown monumental works by Richard Serra, Anselm Kiefer, and Yayoi Kusama ("Love Is Calling"), as well as Bill Viola’s media installation "Stations."

The centerpiece of the cultural program was the performance "Clay Bodies (study)" by Brussels choreographer Ula Sickle, presented in the museum atrium and created in collaboration with KANAL – Centre Pompidou. The performance centers on fired ceramics, which serve as the source of movement, sound, and rhythm. The presentation marked the beginning of future cooperation between the Almaty Museum of Arts and KANAL – Centre Pompidou, reflecting both parties' desire to advance the cultural sphere.

Their Majesties The King and The Queen of the Belgians

"A great artwork needs no interpreter. Serra, Kiefer, Kusama, Viola, and Kazakh sculptors speak different languages, yet within the museum walls, they engage in dialogue. It is precisely from this cultural discussion that new meanings and large-scale international partnerships emerge. It is an honor for the Almaty Museum of Arts to host Their Majesties and to serve as a space where Central Asia and Europe inspire one another," said Almaty Museum of Arts founder Nurlan Smagulov.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde signed the museum’s Distinguished Visitors' Book, marking the day in the history of the museum’s international relations. As a memento of the visit, the monarchs were presented with a catalog of Almagul Menlibayeva’s exhibition "I Understand Everything."

The visit concluded in the museum’s outdoor area by Alicja Kwade’s installation "Pre-position."

Tatyana Khojayeva, Nurlan Smagulov, the royal couple, Meruert Kalieva

The Belgian royal couple's visit to the Almaty Museum of Arts represents an important step in strengthening cultural ties between Kazakhstan and Europe. The showcased exhibition reaffirmed Almaty's status as one of Eurasia’s dynamically developing art hubs, fully capable of engaging in equal dialogue with leading global museum institutions.