Rudziak is a figurative painter and portrait artist based in Portsmouth, with a focus on portraiture. His main areas of interest lie in social issues particularly social and palliative care, exploring attitudes to death and mental health through community engagement.
Rudziak’s portrait practice examines multiple perspectives towards the word culture and the elitist connotations it can invoke, particularly in the context of arts and culture in Portsmouth. His intent is to challenge knee-jerk judgments, stereotyping and classifying people simply by the way someone looks. Rudziak’s current project is based on his volunteering work at the Society of St. James challenging public perceptions of rough sleeping and homelessness and examing how portraiture can act as a catalyst for communication and therapy.
Rudziak is best known for his painting of John Portsmouth Football Club Westwood exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in 2009. His work resides in private and public hands, as part of Portsmouth city art collection, Portsmouth Football Club and the Royal Navy. As well as the National Portrait Gallery, he has been exhibited National Galleries of Scotland, the Royal Academy, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, the Royal Society of Marine Artists and is featured in the book 500 portraits: BP Portrait Award by Sandy Nairn.
CV:
Education:
1994-97 BA Hons, Art, Design and Media, First Class, University of Portsmouth
PUBLICATIONS
500 Portraits
The National Portrait Gallery, London
GROUP & SOLO EXHIBITIONS.
November/December 2023
Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Annual Exhibition
March 2022 - March 2023
Parker Harris, Football Art Prize
Rochdale, Touchstones; Sheffield Millennium Gallery and Sunderland Museum and City Gardens
August 2020 - March 22
Portsmouth Revisited 2, Portsmouth City Museum
Oct 2021
Wilder Exhibition, Round Tower Old Portsmouth
Sept 2021
Royal Academy Summer Show, London
Aug 21
Portrait of Pompey, Solo Show Round Tower, Old Portsmouth
June 21
Interactive Weaves, Old Portsmouth
June 21
Pause, Reflect, Create Exhibition, Round Tower, Old Portsmouth
Dec 20
Advent Exhibition, Jackhouse Gallery, Old Portsmouth
Oct 20
Back and Fill Exhibition, Round Tower, Old Portsmouth
May 30 - 24 2019
D-Day Veterans from the Royal Collection, Portsmouth City Museum
May 14 - 24 2019
8 at the Edge group exhibition, Yellow Edge Gallery, Gosport
October 11 - 20 2018
Mall Galleries
Royal Society of Marine Artists, Annual exhibition, London
June 12 - Aug 19
2018 Royal Academy 250th Summer Show, London
April 2018 - May 2019
We Don’t Need Culture 3 Project with Arts Council England
April 2017 - May 2018
We Don’t Need Culture 2 Project with Arts Council England
April 2016 - April 2017
We Don’t Need Culture Project with Arts Council England
Dec 2016
Solo Exhibition Kings Theatre, Southsea
March 2015 - Dec 2015
We Don’t Need Culture Project with Portsmouth City Council
April 18 - May 18 2015
Group Exhibition, Atelier Gallery, Portsmouth
Jul/Aug 2015
Portsmouth and Hampshire Art Society Summer Exhibition
First Prize, Public Vote
Jul/Aug 2014
Portsmouth and Hampshire Art Society Summer Exhibition
July 2013
Solo Exhibition, The Zodiac Gallery, The Guildhall, Portsmouth
June 2013 First Prize,
The Royal Naval Yacht Club, Portsmouth Festivities
Jul/Aug 2013
Portsmouth and Hampshire Art Society Summer Exhibition
Second and Third Prize, Public Vote
Sept - Oct 2012
Solo Exhibition, Life - the Gallery, Farnham
Jul/Aug 2012
Portsmouth and Hampshire Art Society Summer Exhibition
Sept 2011
Group Exhibition, The New Gallery, Portscatho
Jul/Aug 2011
Portsmouth and Hampshire Art Society Summer Exhibition
First Prize
Dec 2010
Finalist National Open Art Competition, Minerva Theatre, Chichester
July 2010
The New Gallery, Portscatho
July 2010
Group Exhibition, The Kennels, Goodwood
Oct 2010 - Mar 2011
Artist in residence, Portsmouth Grammar School
Jul/Aug 2010
First & Third Prize,
Portsmouth and Hampshire Art Society, Portsmouth
June -Sept 2009
BP Awards, National Portrait Gallery, London, Southampton City Gallery and the
Dean Gallery of the National Galleries of Scotland,
Edinburgh
Sept 2008
First Prize
Portsmouth Open Art Competition,,
Portsmouth City Museum