Ludwig Strydom was born on 11 June 1963 at Heidelberg, Gauteng province, South Africa.

He was exposed to art from an early age by his parents, Matthys (medical doctor, business man and farmer) and Helene (architect). They are both art lovers and it played a big part in their lives. They became art collectors and art patrons. Ludwig showed sculpture talent from a very young age; he used plasticine clay and made toy men and animals that he played with for hours. The family moved to George in 1968, where he grew up and went to school. His parents also founded the Strydom Gallery in George that year.