Barbara van der Kruk was born in Nieuwer Amstel (near Amsterdam). After highschool she was admitted to the Rietveldacademie in Amsterdam to study arts. Despite this fact she decided to study English language and literature at the University in Amsterdam. In this period she took art classes with J. Ploos van Amstel. Inspired by his classes, she quit her study of English, and resumed her study in arts (arts and textiles) After graduation she became an art director for several leading international advertising agencies. (Saatchi & Saatchi, DDB, Young & Rubicam) During this period she kept on painting.
Opleiding
1978 - 1983 LerarenopleidingTekenen Amsterdam
1998 - 1999 Universiteit van Amsterdam Kunstgeschiedenis
2000 - 2002 VU Amsterdam Cultuurwetenschappen
2003 - 2007 Kunst Academie Haarlem