Renée van Leusden - 50 years of imagination - A retrospective
February 22 - June 28
Museum Slager | 's Hertogenbosch | The Netherlands
Born in the Netherlands in 1947, Renée van Leusden developed a lifelong dedication to capturing the emotional depth of the human experience. She studied at the prestigious Royal Academy of Art, ’s-Hertogenbosch, where she laid the foundation for a sculptural practice that would span decades and cross international borders.
Since beginning her career as a sculptor in 1973, van Leusden’s work has been exhibited worldwide and acquired by a wide range of collections; from government institutions and corporate spaces to private collectors. A defining moment in her career came in 1991, when her work was featured in the renowned Mac 2000: Femmes Contemporaines Exposition in Paris, marking her breakthrough onto the international stage.
Van Leusden’s sculptures do more than represent the human form, they embody emotion itself. Her work speaks in a language of feeling: gentleness and compassion sit alongside anger and fear; love and joy are balanced by themes of helplessness, poverty, and pain. This emotional immediacy gives her work a timeless, universal relevance that continues to resonate across cultures.
Over the years, her artistic evolution has been both subtle and striking. Early works, often characterized by simplicity and restraint, were shaped through minimal lines and occasionally shrouded forms. As her practice matured, her sculptures became more open and expressive, embracing freedom, shedding preconceptions, and pushing beyond boundaries.
Renée van Leusden’s journey is one of continuous exploration. Each sculpture marks a step along her path, an unfolding narrative of form, emotion, and the ever-changing human experience. She passed away suddenly at the end of 2025, leaving behind a powerful and deeply human body of work that continues to speak long after her passing.
For more information about the exhibition visit the website
Or contact Saar van Leusden | info@reneevanleusden.nl