Jacob was born in London in 1978. He was apprenticed and assistant to leading UK ceramic artist and author Edmund de Waal, and potter and author Rupert Spira. He has a BA (Hons) History of Art degree from York University. He currently resides in Devon, UK.
Jacob van der Beugel’s work varies in scale from large site-specific architectural installations to gallery pieces.
In more recent work, Jacob’s preoccupation has lain with interpreting man’s attempts to rationalise the abstract: human identity in DNA samples and disease patterns in epidemiology. Jacob’s output re-humanises these abstractions in an endeavour to depict the human condition. His original use of materials, such as ceramics and concrete, embrace their extraordinary ability to capture human traces and endeavours, in their conversion from the soft, every day and ordinary to the hard and frozen sculpted object. Artefacts designed to withstand the scrutiny and ravages of time.
Jacob passionately believes in the importance of Art as a platform to discuss contemporary scientific issues.
His work is collected internationally and held in numerous public and private collections.