Mikhail Rudakov was a painter, graphic artist, and illustrator, who was born in a Cossack family in the Poltava region. He studied at the Kharkiv Art and Industrial Institute and began his career as an illustrator.

During his military service in 1940, Rudakov encountered the works of Polish artists in the city of Przemysl, which opened his eyes to the coloristic explorations of the early 20th century. This exposure was a revelation for an artist who had developed within the confines of social realism.

Rudakov belonged to a generation that experienced the harsh realities of war and the post-war years. He was seriously wounded in September 1941, captured, and upon returning to active duty in 1943, he was arrested and sentenced. He spent five years in Vorkuta camps, working as an assistant to a camp doctor. This difficult period, while physically weakened, allowed him to survive and continue his creative pursuits.

Released in 1949 with permission to reside in the Arkhangelsk region, Rudakov became the main artist at the Kotlas Drama Theater. He joined the Union of Artists three times: in 1934 in Kharkiv, in 1950 in Arkhangelsk, and in 1961 in Moscow, where he eventually settled. In Moscow, he worked as a book graphic artist for publishing houses such as "Young Guard," "Soviet Writer," etc. He created graphic illustrations for the works of classic authors like Alexander Blok, François Villon, Somerset Maugham, and Apuleius, as well as contemporary writers.

In the following years, Rudakov delved deeper into painting, particularly from the 1960s onwards. His works often explored the themes of beauty and the joy of life, portraying landscapes, portraits, and still lifes with remarkable freshness and perception. His ability to capture silence and evoke the warmth of sunlight was exceptional. Rudakov had firsthand experiences to compare the days of peace with.

According to the memoirs of critic Illarion Golitsyn, even amidst life's hardships, Mikhail Rudakov maintained the romanticism of his nature, finding joy in his art and bringing a thirst for life to his paintings, delighting audiences along the way.