Painter Daan Julius Koens creates expressive, colorful works that combine city life, portraits, and contemporary icons. The self-taught artist has exhibited in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, among other places, and will make his debut at the Panorama Mesdag Museum in 2026.
Koens grew up in Curaçao and is self-taught. After a brief period at art academy, he chose to forge his own path. Since 2018, he has worked full-time as a painter and has realized multiple solo and group exhibitions in Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
Alongside his painting practice, Koens is active in the music and performance scene. He has collaborated with Joost Klein, performing together at Lowlands and contributing to the creative team surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.
Inspired by artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and Amedeo Modigliani, Koens has developed a direct and intuitive working method. He paints as much as possible, with a raw energy that brings together personal history, pop culture, and art historical references.
Discover Daan’s highlights from the Museumnacht010 program here.
Instagram @daanjkoens
Photo by Colette Lukassen
