BRUSSELS.- It is with a profound sadness and much emotion that Artexis must announce the premature loss of Karen Renders. Despite her iron will and her immense joie-de-vivre, Karen was unable to win her battle against illness and passed away this Wednesday, 10 October 2012 at the age of 54.

An engaged and passionate woman, she was present at all the formative moments in the creation of Artexis, a specialist exhibitions organiser. As a partner in the business, she made a huge contribution to its development. For more than 20 years, Karen provided a public persona and character to many trade shows, but her great passion remained with Art Brussels.

With the invaluable assistance of the Belgian committee and the international collectors’ committee, a team that she knew how to motivate like no other, and numerous players in the worlds of art and of business, Karen Renders turned Art Brussels into an unmissable event in the world of contemporary art.

This art fair has grown in the course of the years and today occupies an enviable position among contemporary art art fair in Europe and around the world. A lady of natural elegance and with a sharp aesthetic sense, Karen will remain in our memories even if fate now compels us to say farewell. We have lost a partner, a colleague, a friend and confidante, a member of the Artexis extended family.

In these sad hours, we are especially thinking of Karen’s loved ones, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy.

Dear Karen, we will miss you terribly. Fate obliges us to say farewell to you today, but you should know that you will always remain in our thoughts.

For Karen, our partner, colleague and friend.