Ruud van Empel is a Dutch photographer and visual artist born in Breda in 1958. He studied at the Academie voor Beeldende Kunst St. Joost (St. Joost Academy of Art) in Breda, where he began producing independent videotapes in the 1980s. After moving to Amsterdam in the late 1980s, he developed a distinctive photographic style based on the technique of photo collage. His work often explores the tension between realism and idealism, featuring meticulously constructed, idealized representations that evoke a sense of mystery and uncanny atmosphere. He gained international recognition in the mid-2000s with series like 'World, Moon and Venus'. His artistic practice involves digitally assembling numerous photographic elements to create autonomous, narrative-driven worlds that bridge the gap between historical references and contemporary visual media.[1,2]
Photo graphics1997 · Stichting fonds voor de beeldende kunsten · book · DutchAlso listed as 'photographics'. Publication year 1097 is likely a typo for 1997.
Study in Green2003 · TZR Galerie · photobook
World, Moon and Venus2006 · Museum Het Valkhof · photobook
Ruud van Empel, Photoworks 1995-20102011 · Groninger Museum · book
Photo sketch2007 · book
Photo Archive2007 · book
Exhibitions
1999Waterpas of optisch recht?Groninger Museum, Groningensolo
2011Ruud van Empel Photoworks 1995–2010Groninger Museum, Groningensolo
2013Strange BeautyMoPA Museum for Photographic Arts, San Diegogroup
