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Ruud van Empel
Ruud van Empel (*1958) is a contemporary Dutch artist known for his surreal, hyper-realistic, and series-based photo collages. Van Empel combines photography, digital editing, and elements of painting to create unique compositions that depict dreamscapes and idyllic scenarios. His works often feature themes of childhood and innocent figures set within lush, natural environments, exploring concepts such as identity, innocence, and the contrast between nature and culture.
Van Empel draws on a wide range of artistic influences. His background in graphic design informs his precise composition and attention to detail. His work also subtly reflects influences from 17th-century Dutch painting, especially in his use of light and shadow, with echoes of artists like Vermeer, Rembrandt, and van Eyck evident in the refined lighting and color intensity of his pieces.
The works of more recent artists, such as Emily Carr and Eliot Porter, as well as the expressionist paintings of Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock, have also significantly influenced series like Landscape and Pollution. Surrealist tendencies and visionary worlds are also reflected in van Empel’s visual language. His photo-realistic collages, perfected through digital technology, present viewers with a world that balances between reality and fantasy, where the ordinary becomes elevated and the unfamiliar feels familiar. Through this, Ruud van Empel has crafted a unique artistic style that has gained him international recognition.
The works of Ruud van Empel are exhibited worldwide in museums and art institutions, including the George Eastman House in New York (2006) and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (2023). His works are part of many prestigious art collections, including several pieces in the Elton John Collection.
In Germany, Ruud van Empel is exclusively represented by CAMERA WORK Gallery.
Solo Exhibitions
Ruud van Empel has been recognised in numerous solo exhibitions. You can find a selection below:
2025
Musée de la Photographie, Charleroi, Belgium
San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego, USA
2023
Stedelijk Museum Breda, Breda, Netherlands
2022
VB Photography Centre, Kuopio, Finland
2021
Van Gogh House, Zundert, Netherlands
2020
Hangar Art Centre, Brussels, Belgium
2019
Museum Belvédère, Heerenveen, Netherlands
2015
Foto Art Festival, Bielsko-Biala, Poland
Photo Phnom Penh, Cambodia
2014
Noordbrabants Museum, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
2013
Fotografiska, Stockholm, Sweden
FoMu, Fotomuseum, Antwerpen, Belgium
2012
MoPA – Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego, USA
2011
Groninger Museum, Groningen, Netherlands
2010
Noordbrabants Museum, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
2008
CB Collection Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan
2007
Museum Het Valkhof, Nijmegen, Netherlands
2005
Noordbrabants Museum, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
DSM Hoofdkantoor, Heerlen, Netherlands
1999
Fotoforum-Armando Museum, Amersfoort, Netherlands
Groninger Museum, Groningen, Netherlands
Group Exhibitions
Ruud van Empel has been represented in numerous group exhibitions. You can find a selection below:
2023
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2022
Istanbul Atatürk Cultural Center, Istanbul, Turkey
2021
Internationale Fotobiënnale Oostende, Ostend, Belgium
2020
Groninger Museum, Groningen, Netherlands
NRW-Forum, Düsseldorf, Germany
2019
Norton Museum of Art, W. Palm Beach, USA
Museo del Paesaggio, Venice, Italy
2018
Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, USA
PhotoBrussels Festival, Brussels, Belgium
2017
Nassau County Museum of Art, New York, USA
Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden, Netherlands
Kunsthal KAdE, Amersfoort, Netherlands
Joods Historisch Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2016
Collectors View, Amsterdam, Netherlands
NRW Forum, Düsseldorf, Germany
Photofestival Bela Horizante, Brazil
Photofestival Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego, USA
Festival Portrait(s), Vichy, France
De Vishal, Haarlem, Netherlands
2015
UConn, University of Connecticut, USA
Munsterland Festival, Lüdinghausen, Germany
2014
Museum Dr. Guislain, Gent, Belgium
Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings, USA
2013
Museum Het Valkhof, Nijmegen, Netherlands
2012
MOTI Museum, Breda, Netherlands
2011
Seoul Arts Center, Seoul, Korea
Fundacao Bienal, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Museum Dr. Guislain, Gent, Belgium
Museum Het Valkhof, Nijmegen, Netherlands
2010
LUMC, Leiden, Netherlands
Shay Arye Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel
Kunsthalle Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
The Portsmouth Museum of Fine Art, Portsmouth, USA
Gorcums Museum, Gorinchem, Netherlands
Museum Het Valkhof, Nijmegen, Netherlands
2009
Anti-Crises AHA-Kunstprojekt, Hasselt, Belgium
21C Museum, Louisville, USA
Ulsan Culture and Arts Center, Ulsan, Korea
Hangaram Design Museum, Seoul, Korea
John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, USA
Darmstädter Tage der Fotografie, Darmstadt, Germany
2008
Museum Kunst Palast, Düsseldorf, Germany
Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Des Moines Art Centre, Des Moines, USA
North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, USA
2007
Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego, USA
Bellezza Pericolosa, Pan, Naples, Italy
Pinchuk Art Center, Kiev, Ukraine
Fotofestival Naarden, Naarden Vesting, Netherlands
University of Iowa Museum of Art, Iowa City, USA
Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, USA
Chelsea Art Museum, New York, USA
2006
George Eastman House, Rochester, New York, USA
2005
GEM Gemeentemuseum, Den Haag, Netherlands
2003
Photobiennale Liège, Liege, Belgium
Fotofestival Naarden, Netherlands
Fotobiënnale Rotterdam, Netherlands
2002
Universiteit van Tilburg, FAXX, Tilburg, Netherlands
Kunsthal de Remise, SBK, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2001
Art-Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
1999
Fotomanifestatie Noorderlicht, Groningen, Netherlands
1998
Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Collections
Ruud van Empel’s works can be found in internationally renowned private and public collections such as:
USA
The Alturas Foundation, San Antonio, Texas
Chaney Collection, Houston, Texas
Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, Iowa
George Eastman House, Rochester, New York
Christian Louboutin, Paris, New York
Jeff Morr Collection, Miami, Florida
Maxine Taupin, Los Angeles
MoPA Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego, California
Nerman Museum, Kansas City, Kansas
Pier 24 Photography, San Francisco, California
RCB (Royal Canadian Bank) in America
Stéphane Janssen Collection, Arizona
Netherlands
APG Collectie, Amsterdam
Stedelijk Museum Breda, Breda
Museum Belvédère, Heerenveen
Collectie Erasmus Universiteit, Rotterdam
Collection Rabobank Groningen, Groningen
Collection Rabobank West-Flakkee, Stellendam
Collection Rabobank Midden Twente, Enschedé
Collection Schunck Glaspaleis, Heerlen
DELA Kunstcollection, Eindhoven
Eneco Energie, Rotterdam
Museum More, Gorsel
Groninger Museum, Groningen
Joods Historisch Museum, Amsterdam
Instituut voor Beeld en Geluid, Hilversum
ING Real Estate Photography Collection, Amsterdam
Isala Klinieken, Zwolle
Museum Het Valkhof, Nijmegen
Museum Voorlinden, Wassenaar
Noordbrabants Museum, ‘s-Hertogenbosch
RIJKS Museum, Amsterdam
The Essential Collection Rabobank Nederland, Eindhoven
The Hoboken Photo-Collection, Rotterdam
The Netherlands Ministery of Foreign Affairs, Den Haag
Vu MC Collection, Amsterdam
United Kingdom
Arad Collection, London
C-Photo Collection, London
David Roberts Collection, London
The Franks-Suss Collection, London
Sir Elton John Photography Collection, London & Atlanta, USA
Germany
Teutloff Photo + Video Collection, Bielefeld
Austria
Generali Foundation, Vienna
France
FNAC Collection, Paris
Switzerland
Catlin Collection, Zurich
Spain
Colección Juan Redón, Barcelona
Fundación N.M.A.C., Cadiz
Israel
Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv
Japan
CB Collection, Tokyo
Awards & Honors
2017
Artist of the Year (Friends of Museums in Israel-NYC)
2013
Municipality of Breda Oeuvre-prize
2001
H.N. Werkmanprize
1993
Charlotte Köhlerprize
1981
St. Joost prize