René Daniëls

René Daniëls (born 1950, Eindhoven, Netherlands) is a Dutch painter known for his enigmatic, layered works that blend abstraction with figurative elements, often incorporating text, theatrical imagery, and architectural motifs. His paintings from the 1980s, particularly his recurring 'bow-tie' or 'butterfly' shapes representing exhibition spaces and stage-like environments, earned him international recognition as a distinctive voice in Neo-Expressionism and conceptual painting. In 1987, Daniëls suffered a severe stroke that significantly curtailed his artistic output, though he has continued to work intermittently, and his earlier body of work has been the subject of major retrospectives and renewed critical appreciation.