From early childhood, Karim was submerged in the world of antiques thanks to his father, Stefaan Grusenmeyer, who started his career as a dealer in 1960, and was eventually elected president of the Guild of Flemish Antiquairs. With keen interest, Karim has observed the ever-evolving career of his eclectic father spanning over 50 years and involving the arts of all continents and all periods.
After a maiden voyage to China in 1985, he subsequently studied Sinology (classical and modern Chinese, modern Japanese) at the University of Gent and then spent two years (1988-1990) in Beijing, at the Academy of Fine Arts … while frequenting the Beijing antique markets.
Back in Belgium, Karim taught Chinese Art history at the University of Gent before deciding to pursue a career dealing with objects rather than words.
In 1992 Isabelle and Karim Grusenmeyer-Bilquin opened their gallery of Chinese art specializing in scholar’s art, furniture and archaeology. In 2000, the gallery moved to the Sablon district in Brussels and thus was triggered a vivid interest for the arts of Oceania and Madagascar of which fine examples are continuously displayed, in contrast with the works of Southeast Asian art that remain however, dominant in the gallery’s collection.
Karim Grusenmeyer is a member of the Chambre Royale des Antiquaires et des Négociants en Oeuvres d’Art de Belgique since 1993 (membership supported by Gisèle Croës and Bernard Blondeel). In 2010, with the patronage of Jacques Barrère and Jacques Billen, Karim was elected member of the Belgian Chamber of Art Experts .