About

My name is Ruud Knispel. I’m a self-taught artist working with leather.

After retiring, I finally found the space to give form to a creativity that had lived quietly within me for years. I didn’t set out to create something perfect or to be seen or celebrated. I just wanted to make something honest.

That search led me back to leather.

Leather is a material I worked with for many years and it carries something I value: character.
It bears the marks of time, it is simple, strong and vulnerable all at once. In many ways, it feels like a reflection of myself.

What began as an experiment slowly became essential. Creating brings focus and meaning to my days.
Each piece is a dialogue between my hands and the material, a conversation in which I listen more than I control. My work is guided by intuition rather than plans.

An elderly man with long white hair and a beard, dressed in a black tuxedo with a white shirt, black bow tie, and a white pocket square, sitting at a formal event with chandeliers, stage lights, and rows of chairs behind him.

An older man with white hair and a beard, wearing a dark gray sweater, sitting in a chair in front of a large abstract artwork composed of various black and brown square patterns.

I never attended art school. Everything I know comes from affinity and experimentation: trying, adjusting, responding and allowing the material to lead the way.

My work has found a permanent home at Lumen Hotel & Events in Zwolle. It happened through pure timing, I needed a studio and exhibition space, they were looking for an artist-in-residence.

Today, more than 150 of my pieces live throughout the hotel, integrated into rooms, corridors and conference spaces.

If you’re nearby, I warmly invite you to visit.
The depth and texture of leather speak differently in person than they ever can in a photograph.

My art

My process shifts with every piece, but it usually follows one of three paths.

I create individual elements and assemble them like a collage, allowing a final composition to emerge from separate parts.

Other times, I work in layers of leather combined with paint to build movement, depth and structure. Each layer adds dimension until the piece finds its own rhythm and balance.

And sometimes, I let the leather itself decide. Its natural shape and texture become the canvas, guiding me toward what wants to be created.

This variety is visible in the work. Some pieces feel structured, others loose or playful. Some are bold, others quiet and earthy. What they all share is honesty. They are imperfect, just like life itself.

People who connect with my work often appreciate things that feel real. They choose sincerity over perfection and character over polish.

If this speaks to you, take your time with the work.
Let the shapes and textures tell their story.
And if a piece feels like it belongs in your home, I’d be happy to help it find its way to you.