Reinier Lucassen

Reinier Lucassen (Amsterdam, 1939) studied at the Rijksnormaalschool for art teachers in Amsterdam. Beginning in 1960, he developed a painting style that combines figurative elements from everyday life with abstract symbols. At the time, he was regarded as Europe’s answer to Pop Art—a view that, incidentally, was based on a misunderstanding. He is also often cited as a Dutch exponent of the “New Figuration” movement. Lucassen combines “mundane” elements, such as comic-book characters, with large, brightly colored planes and expressive elements. Since 1980, he has been creating smaller, more subdued works that are sometimes reminiscent of Aboriginal paintings—powerful symbols constructed from simple dots. A hallmark of Lucassen’s work is that he often integrates letterforms into the composition in a pictorial manner. The assemblages he creates are constructed from everyday materials such as wood, tin, or rubber, which seem to take on new meaning through their combination.

In 1986, Lucassen represented the Netherlands at the Rietveld Pavilion during the Venice Biennale. For many years, he served as a senior lecturer in painting at the Academy of Art and Industry in Enschede. He was represented by Galerie Espace in Amsterdam until the owners’ death. His work is also regularly exhibited at Galerie Nouvelles Images in The Hague and Galerie Parade in Amsterdam.