Michiel Deylius, 'Keuzestress', 2021
QUICK FACTS
Type
Museum Object
Categories
Era
2021
Origin
🇳🇱 Netherlands
Artist/Maker
Michiel Deylius
Rarity
Scarce (6/10)
Discovered
Jan 25, 2026
1 months ago
DESCRIPTION
This is a minimalist wall relief titled "Keuzestress" by the Dutch artist Michiel Deylius, created in 2021. The work is composed of a 5x4 grid of polychromed Italian slate blocks set within a darker slate frame. The piece engages with the legacy of geometric abstraction, using the grid's repetitive structure, but introduces a subtle, almost painterly, variation through the different shades of the off-white blocks. The title adds a conceptual layer, suggesting the grid represents the paralyzing effect of too many similar options, a distinctly contemporary anxiety.
CULTURAL ECHOES
Where This Object Echoes
The work's use of the grid, seriality, and non-expressive forms directly references the principles of artists like Donald Judd and Agnes Martin.
The geometric purity and reduction to essential forms recall the principles of Dutch artists like Piet Mondrian, albeit executed here in a monochromatic palette.
Ritual & Ceremonial Use
- •Art collecting and gallery exhibition, where objects are presented for aesthetic contemplation and commercial exchange.
Meaning Through Time
The grid symbolized objectivity, rationality, and a rejection of emotional expression in art.
In this work, the grid is re-contextualized by the title 'Keuzestress' to symbolize psychological anxiety and the paradox of choice in a digital, consumerist age.
HISTORICAL STORY
DID YOU KNOW?
The title "Keuzestress" is a Dutch word that has entered international use, describing the anxiety felt when faced with an overwhelming number of choices.
Slate, the material used here, has a history in art stretching back centuries, not just for sculpture but also as a surface for paintings, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries when artists prized its smooth, dark surface.
MATERIAL & CONDITION
Surface
The piece presents a duality of textures: the dark slate grid is matte and subtly uneven, while the raised, polychromed blocks have a smoother, low-sheen finish that captures light, revealing slight tonal variations between cream and bone white.
Weight & Feel
Constructed from Italian slate, this piece would be deceptively heavy and substantial, feeling dense and cool to the touch. It requires robust wall mounting.
Condition
The work appears to be in excellent, gallery-fresh condition with no visible chips, scratches, or wear. The edges are sharp and the surfaces are clean, consistent with its recent creation date.
RARITY ANALYSIS
Genuinely harder to find. Perhaps only dozens come to market annually. Collectors actively watch for these pieces.
Typical Characteristics
- Dozens per year at market
- Documented provenance valued
- Active collector pursuit
EXPERT ANALYSIS
Museum-Trained Art Historian
Confidence is very high because a clear, legible gallery label provides complete and verifiable information about the artist, title, date, and medium, all of which are consistent with the visual evidence of the artwork.
KEY EVIDENCE
- 1The visible gallery label identifies the artist as Michiel Deylius and the title as 'Keuzestress'.
- 2The label clearly states the date (2021) and medium ('Gepolychromeerde Italiaans leisteen', or Polychromed Italian slate).
- 3The work's style is a definitive example of contemporary geometric abstraction, referencing minimalist principles.
- 4The composition consists of a 5x4 grid of raised blocks, each with subtle variations in its polychrome finish.
- 5The stated gallery price of €2,950 provides a direct anchor for its primary market value.
WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY
- →Confirm the artist's recent exhibition history and auction records to better contextualize the gallery price.
- →Obtain a formal condition report from the gallery or seller before purchase.
- →Research the specific gallery or art fair where this photograph was taken to understand the context of the pricing.
ESTIMATED VALUE
Updated: Feb 27, 2026
- Market comparables from auctions & retail
- Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
- Current collector demand & trends
- Low = quick sale, high = patient seller
For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.
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