An exceptional collection of roughly six thousand, particularly twentieth century, collages and assemblages lies at the heart of the private collection. A separate exhibition space has been specially designed to permanently display part of the collection. Not all of the works are on view, the exhibition is a subject to change four times a year.
The collection, which was developed around the art of mainly Belgian artists, encompasses collages from the early 1920s (Avant-Garde and Dada era) by Paul Joostens, Georges Herbiet, Henri Van Straten, Michel Seuphor, Marcel-Louis Baugniet and Jean-Jacques Gailliard. Collages created by surrealists such as E.L.T. Mesens, Marcel Mariën, Gilbert Senecaut, Louis Scutenaire, Jane Graverol, Rachel Baes, Robert Willems and Roger Van De Wouwer also form a part of the collection. Many of these collages have been loaned for exhibitions to the Museum of Bucharest (Belgian Surrealism), the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris (Dada), the new Musée des Beaux-Arts in Mons (Surréalisme en Belgique 1920-2000) and to the Musée du Louvre (Jan Fabre, L’Ange de la Métamorphose).
A wide range of works by artists from the heydays of collage art (1950s through 1970s) has been included into the collection: Georges Collignon, Engelbert Van Anderlecht, Robert Geenens, Max Servais, Annie Debie, Louis Van Lint, Christian Dotremont, the Coll’Art movement (founded by Marcel-Louis Baugniet and Jean Milo). The collection also includes a series of works by authors, poets and art critics dating back to the same era: literary creations by Louis-Paul Boon, Hugo Claus, Freddy De Vree, Paul De Vree and Patrick Conrad. Furthermore, the collection incorporates some “Collages Partagés” – collective collages created by artist duos: Paule Pia and Annie Debie, Christian Dotremont and Mogens Balle, Jo Delahaut and Jean Dypréau, Serge Vandercam and Joseph Noiret. Constructivist artists such as Jo Delahaut, Jean Rets and Jean-Pierre Maury are also represented in the collection.
Featuring works by contemporary Belgian artists like Jan Fabre, Panamarenko and Luc Tuymans, the Verbeke Foundation offers a unique overview of twentieth century collage art (un siècle de collage). Moreover, the collectors keep eyes open for young artists experimenting with the medium of collage. The intention is to reserve a certain amount of sections of the collage exhibition space for solo shows by contemporary artists. Works by Sofie Muller were on display during the first individual collage exhibition in 2007. The second solo exhibition was devoted to Thierry Renard, one of a few Belgian artists with an oeuvre built largely around collages.
Artists:
| A | B | C |
| Frank Aasnes (NO) | Rachel Baes (BE) | Marcelle Cahn (FR) |
| Jürgen Addiers (BE) | César Baillieux (BE) | Pierre Caille (BE) |
| Georges Adé (BE) | Edouard Bal (BE) | Xavier Canonne (BE) |
| Jan Adriaenssens (BE) | Marcel-Louis Baugniet (BE) | Jan Carlier (BE) |
| Suzanne Agael (BE) | Walter Beckers (BE) | Maurice Carlier (BE) |
| Eileen Agar (GB) | Ruben Bellinkx (BE) | Rose Cartwright (GB) |
| Philippe Aguirre Y Otegui (BE) | Emile Bergen (BE) | Frank J.M.A. Casteleyns (BE) |
| Pierre Alechinsky (BE) | Roland Van Den Berghe (BE) | Frank F. Casteleyns (BE) |
| Englebert Van Anderlecht (BE) | Huguette Arthur Bertrand (FR) | Tessa De Ceuninck (BE) |
| Willy Anthoons (BE) | Guido Biasi (IT) | Jacques Charlier (BE) |
| Arman (FR) | Waldo Bien (NL) | Mathieu Chevallier (FR) |
| Marcel Arnould (BE) | Guillaume Bijl (BE) | Emile Christiaens (BE) |
| Andrée Arty (BE) | Guy Bleus (BE) | Herbiet Georges Christian (BE) |
| Eddy Ausloos (BE) | Phil Bloom (NL) | Rogier Claessens (BE) |
| Felix De Boeck (BE) | Pierre Clarebout (BE) | |
| Fred Boffin (BE) | Hugo Claus (BE) | |
| André Bogaert (BE) | Luc Claus (BE) | |
| Christian Boltanski (FR) | Christine Clinckx (BE) | |
| Louis Paul Boon (BE) | Henri De Cocker (BE) | |
| Lieve Bostoen (BE) | Georges Collignon (BE) | |
| Luc Boudens (BE) | Patrick Conrad (BE) | |
| Michel Boussy (FR) | Caroline Coolen (BE) | |
| Amélie Bouvier (FR) | Leo Copers (BE) | |
| Mario De Brabandere (BE) | Roberto Crippa (IT) | |
| Eugène Brands (NL) | ||
| Carl Buchheister (DE) | ||
| Jan Bucquoy (BE) | ||
| Peter Buggenhout (BE) | ||
| Sjoerd Buisman (NL) | ||
| Karl Bungert (DE) | ||
| Pol Bury (BE) | ||
| Jean-Marie Bytebier (BE) |
| D | E | F |
| Frans Daels (BE) | Willy Van Eeckhout (BE) | Jan Fabre (BE) |
| Etienne Van Doorslaer (BE) | Marc Eemans (BE) | Luc Fierens (BE) |
| Charles Debbaut (BE) | Robert Filliou (FR) | |
| Annie Debie (BE) | Filip Francis (BE) | |
| Gilbert Decock (BE) | ||
| Jean Decoster (BE) | ||
| Jos Deenen (NL) | ||
| Jo Delahaut (BE) | ||
| Luc Deleu (BE) | ||
| José Delhaye (BE) | ||
| Renée Demeester (BE) | ||
| Denmark (BE) | ||
| Tjok Dessauvage (BE) | ||
| Danny Devos (BE) | ||
| Walter Dexel (DE) | ||
| Jean Deyrolle (FR) | ||
| Griet Dobbels (BE) | ||
| Leo Dohmen (BE) | ||
| Henry Dorchy (BE) | ||
| Jan Dries (BE) | ||
| Line Ducerf (BE) | ||
| Hugo Duchateau (BE) | ||
| Marcin Dudek (PL) | ||
| Jacques Duez (ZM) | ||
| Paul Dufrane (BE) | ||
| Freek Dumarais (BE) | ||
| Veerle Dupont (BE) | ||
| Jacques Duthoo (FR) | ||
| Bruno Dyckmans (BE) |
| G | H | I |
| Henri Gabriël (BE) | Maurice Haccuria (BE) | Renaat Ivens (BE) |
| Jean-Jacques Gaillard (BE) | Jan d’Haese (BE) | |
| Wybrand Ganzevoort (BE) | Irène Hamerlinck (BE) | |
| Jehan Gaudry (FR) | Rouve Hauser (BE) | |
| Robert Geenens (BE) | Henri Heerbrant (BE) | |
| Lode Geens (BE) | Marie Helpin (FR) | |
| Paul Gees (BE) | Esther Hess (CH) | |
| Vic Gentils (BE) | Heinz E. Hirscher (DE) | |
| Vincent Geyskens (BE) | Wout Hoeboer (NL) | |
| Ludo Giels (BE) | Paul Van Hoeydonk (BE) | |
| Krijn Giezen (NL) | Pal Horvath (HU) | |
| Wim Gijzen (NL) | Hans Houwing (NL) | |
| Gust Gils (BE) | Stan Hoydonckx (BE) | |
| Willo Gonnissen (BE) | ||
| Jan Goossen (NL) | ||
| Walter Goossens (BE) | ||
| Carina Gosselé (BE) | ||
| Chantal Grard (BE) | ||
| Jane Graverol (BE) | ||
| Franck Gribling (NL) | ||
| Jacques Van Griethuysen (BE) | ||
| Ferre Grignard (BE) | ||
| Jean Groenen (BE) | ||
| Loek Grootjans (NL) | ||
| René Guiette (BE) | ||
| Marthe Guillain (BE) |
| J | K | L |
| Stefan De Jaeger (BE) | Eduardo Kac (VS) | Labisse (FR) |
| Floris Jespers (BE) | Horst Egon Kalinowski (DE) | Joseph Lacasse (BE) |
| Paul Joostens (BE) | Kamagurka (BE) | Jacques Lacomblez (BE) |
| Herbert Kaufmann (DE) | Simone Lacour (BE) | |
| Willy Kessels (BE) | Alain Le Yaouanc (FR) | |
| Raoul De Keyser (BE) | Walter Leblanc (BE) | |
| Jan Kiemeneij (BE) | Leopold Leclercq (BE) | |
| Nico Klerks (NL) | Luc Lefebvre (BE) | |
| Jacobus Kloppenburg (NL) | Marcel Lefrancq (BE) | |
| Théodore Koenig (BE) | Tiny Lejeune (BE) | |
| Jiri Kolar (CZ) | Philippe Lemaire (FR) | |
| Shlomo Koren (DE) | Jacques Lennep (BE) | |
| Barney de Krijger (NL) | Damien De Lepeleire | |
| Laurens van Kuik (NL) | Lilli Lewy-Schulte (DE) | |
| Theo Kuypers (NL) | Kurt Lewy (DE) | |
| Ernst van Leyden (NL) | ||
| François Liénard (BE) | ||
| Marlene Lindmark (SE) | ||
| Louis Van Lint (BE) | ||
| Herbert List (DE) | ||
| Jacques Lizène (BE) | ||
| Bernd Lohaus (DE) | ||
| Richard Lucas (BE) | ||
| Reinier Lucassen (NL) |
| M | N | O |
| Marcel Van Maele (BE) | Frans Neels (BE) | Merapi Obermayer (NL) |
| Jacky De Maeyer (BE) | Roger Nellens (BE) | Raphaël August Opstaele (BE) |
| Georges Mariën (BE) | Xavier Nellsne (BE) | Bill Orix (BE) |
| Marcel Mariën (BE) | Paul Neuhuys (BE) | Hans Overvliet (NL) |
| Remo Martini (BE) | Jacques Neve (BE) | |
| Danny Matthys (BE) | Theo Niermeyer (NL) | |
| Jacques Matton (BE) | Eddie Nolf (BE) | |
| Jean-Pierre Maury (BE) | Henri Nouveau (HU) | |
| Guy Mees (BE) | ||
| René Mels (BE) | ||
| E.L.T. Mesens (BE) | ||
| Rosmond Meys (BE) | ||
| Ludo Mich (BE) | ||
| Jean Milo (BE) | ||
| Olga Morano (BE) | ||
| Gunther Moriau (BE) | ||
| Desmond Morris (GB) | ||
| Luis Moyano (BE) | ||
| Sofie Muller (BE) |
| P | Q | R |
| Jacques Pajak (FR) | Mig Quinet (BE) | André De Rache (BE) |
| Panamarenko (BE) | Carlos de Radzitzky (GB) | |
| Marc Pannek (BE) | L. A. Raeven (NL) | |
| Max Papart (FR) | Thierry Renard (BE) | |
| Jef Van Parijs (BE) | Jean Rets (FR) | |
| Aubin Pasque (BE) | Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd (SE) | |
| Jozef Peeters (BE) | Jacques Richez (FR) | |
| Adriaan Van Peel | Jonas Richter (DE) | |
| Monique Perceval (BE) | Edith Rimmington (GB) | |
| Paul Perdieus (BE) | Frans Van Roosmalen (BE) | |
| Lucia Pescador (IT) | Will Van Roosmalen (BE) | |
| Pia Paule (BE) | Adriaan De Roover (BE) | |
| Tinka Pittoors (VE) | Marc De Roover (BE) | |
| Bert Popelier (BE) | Gust Romijn (NL) | |
| Frans Van Praet (BE) | Félix Roulin (BE) | |
| Valentine Prax (DZ) | Peter Royen (NL) | |
| Jacques Prévert (FR) | Jef Ruythoorn (BE) |
| S | T | V |
| Sélim Sasson (FR) | Wim Taciturn (BE) | Philippe Vandenberg (BE) |
| Key Sato (JP) | Maria Talaga (PL) | Guy Vandenbranden (BE) |
| Willy De Sauter (BE) | Suzanne Thienpont (BE) | Serge Vandercam (BE) |
| Jan Saverys (BE) | André Thomkins (CH) | Ludwig Vandevelde (BE) |
| Henri Schaekels (BE) | Enrico Todaro (CL) | Jan Vanriet (BE) |
| Joop Schafthuizen (NL) | Narcisse Tordoir (BE) | Bart Vanwalle (BE) |
| Maurice Schelck (BE) | Wayn Traub (BE) | Jan Van Veen (BE) |
| Tineke Schuurmans (NL) | Luc Tuymans (BE) | Erik Verboven (BE) |
| Louis Scutenaire (BE) | Marie Verboven (FR) | |
| Timothy Segers (BE) | Wout Vercammen (BE) | |
| Gilbert Senecaut (BE) | Armand Vereecke (BE) | |
| Max Servais (BE) | Christian Verhelst (BE) | |
| Victor Servranckx (BE) | Johannes Verschoor (BE) | |
| Michel Seuphor (BE) | Jaap Versteegh (NL) | |
| Hannes Van Severen (BE) | Mark Verstockt (BE) | |
| Egied Simons (NL) | Jacques Villeglé (FR) | |
| Paul Snoek (BE) | Bernard Villers (BE) | |
| Merlin Spie (BE) | Pierre Vitali (FR) | |
| Klaus Staeck (DE) | Francis Vloebergs (BE) | |
| Anna Staritsky (UA) | Ferdinand Vonck (BE) | |
| André Stas (BE) | André van der Vossen (NL) | |
| Henri Van Straten (BE) | ||
| Gilbert Swimberghe (BE) | ||
| Albert Szukalski (PL) |
| W | Z | |
| Hans Waanders (NL) | Liane Zafrisco (IT) | |
| Frank Wagemans (BE) | Herbert Zangs (DE) | |
| Gordon Wagner (VS) | Jacques Zimmerman (BE) | |
| Karl Waldmann (DE) | ||
| Marcel Wauters (BE) | ||
| Suse Weber (DE) | ||
| Julien Weverbergh (BE) | ||
| Robert Willems (BE) | ||
| Frederik De Wilde (BE) | ||
| Roger Van de Wouwer (BE) |