Rich Poole

Rich Poole is a generative artist born in the United Kingdom and now based in the South Island of New Zealand. His background is in engineering and fluid dynamics. Poole's practice evolved from early work with mechanical plotters to a focus on digital methods. His output includes both solo projects and collaborations, such as the Miniscapes series created with the illustrator Rick Crane. His work has been presented in exhibitions, including a two person show at Cromwell Place, London, in 2023.

Poole’s method is grounded in the construction of images from code, often using particles and other elementary components as building blocks. In series such as Umbra, a simple premise, like the casting of shadows by geometric forms, governs the algorithm. For collaborative projects like Miniscapes, his generative code is combined with externally designed assets to produce minimalist landscapes from simple shapes and lines. His digital systems frequently retain a connection to physical processes. The algorithm for his series Ahunga, for example, draws inspiration from his earlier work with plotters, creating textures that recall traditional print techniques.

The resulting compositions operate between abstraction and representation. While series titles such as Erg, Acequia and Manu refer to landscape and nature, the forms themselves are resolutely geometric and minimal. This use of elemental cubic and linear shapes to create dynamic spatial relationships invites comparisons to early twentieth century abstract movements, including Suprematism. Though originating as digital files, the works often display a concern for surface and texture. Details are intended to be appreciated in large scale reproductions, suggesting the qualities of physical media like woodblock prints and etchings.