Rudy van der Pol was born in Christchurch in 1958 to Dutch parents. His formal art training involved a series of courses at Auckland Technical Institute – in Jewellery Making, Graphics and Illustration, Photography and Landscape Design.

He has worked with a multitude of media, employing decoupage techniques, collage, specialised paint finishes, metallised effects and patinas, along with sculpted metal and found objects. His work is often humorous, integrating mediums in unusual ways.

Currently Rudy van der Pol works mainly with copper, and uses wrapping and pleating as a rhythmic expression to create textural overlays on the sculptural form. He also finds inspiration in nature. His forms frequently border on abstraction, leaving space for a more personal response by the viewer. Ultimately, he concerns himself with the form and process in his art. A work may be representational referencing his personal history – but also may be a cross-cultural historic emblem.

Rudy van der Pol has been represented by ARTIS Gallery since 2012. His work is in private and corporate collections in Hong Kong and throughout New Zealand.