Dim bmpempty As Bitmap = New Bitmap("c:\prova.bmp")

    Private Sub frmSymbols_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        Dim imageColumn As DataGridViewImageColumn
        Dim columnCount As Integer = 0

        DataGridView1.ColumnHeadersVisible = False
        DataGridView1.RowHeadersVisible = False
        DataGridView1.AllowUserToResizeColumns = False
        DataGridView1.AllowUserToResizeRows = False
        DataGridView1.RowTemplate.Height = 30

        Do
            imageColumn = New DataGridViewImageColumn()
            imageColumn.Image = bmpempty
            imageColumn.ImageLayout = DataGridViewImageCellLayout.NotSet
            imageColumn.Description = "default image layout"
            imageColumn.Width = 40
            DataGridView1.Columns.Add(imageColumn)
            columnCount = columnCount + 1
        Loop While columnCount < 20

    End Sub