Koen Leemans studied history at the University of Leuven. From 2001 until the present he is director at Cultuurcentrum Mechelen. As curator he is responsible for the exhibitions there and at De Garage, a space for contemporary art in Mechelen. Cultuurcentrum’s visual arts program is intended to complement that of other museums and visual arts centers in Belgium. De Garage primarily produces its own new exhibitions, with a focus on emerging artists and with careful attention to the work of more established artists. As an independent curator, Koen Leemans sometimes organizes exhibitions in various art spaces. He is a member of several art committees and works as a writer and visiting lecturer. From 2020 onwards he is curator of contemporary art in Museum Hof Van Busleyden and De Garage.