Ulrich Gleiter – Artist Biography Ulrich Gleiter embodies the spirit of a global artist, creating landscape paintings that synthesize German Expressionism with Russian Impressionism through his dedicated plein air practice. Born in Saarbrücken, Germany in 1977, he pursued undergraduate studies at Dresden Academy of Fine Arts, where he learned the bold, colorful brushwork of early 20th-century German Expressionists with an emphasis on artistic individuality. His education continued with an exchange year at Moscow's Surikov Institute, followed by six intensive years at the Repin Institute in Saint Petersburg, where he mastered the rigorous academic techniques and thick paint application characteristic of Russian tradition. Gleiter divides his time between Europe and the United States, earning particular admiration among plein air artists in the Southwest. His philosophical approach to painting reflects a deep appreciation for nature's timelessness and its capacity to transcend temporal concerns. Working primarily in oil on linen and canvas, he captures diverse international locations from Nordic wilderness to Mediterranean villages, while also finding beauty in urban subjects including automobile dealerships and cargo ships, as well as portraits, nudes, and still lifes. "Ulrich Gleiter is a citizen of the world. Born in Saarbrücken, Germany, he pursued his undergraduate studies at Dresden's Academy of Fine Arts, where he learned to paint with the bold, colorful strokes handed down from the early 20th-century German expressionists. Students there prioritized their individuality — no one but you could have made this picture, they were told. Gleiter then absorbed a different view of artistry during his exchange year at Moscow's Surikov Institute, followed by six more years at the Repin Institute in St. Petersburg. Today Gleiter divides time between Germany, Russia, and the United States, where he has become much admired among plein-airists in such scenic places as Colorado, California, and Wyoming. In our era of diplomatic tensions, when Crimea and Russia appear regularly in the headlines, Gleiter feels a renewed appreciation for nature's timelessness — for its inspiring capacity to rise above the ins-and-outs of man-made problems. Today, he says, 'I often think about the history of an area where I am painting, about how many troubles and beautiful things may have happened there. Most importantly, I am humbled to observe how natural forces never stop moving.' Gleiter turns his searching eye not only to wilderness, but also to the banalities of urban life — to parked cars, the glinting sprawl of an automobile dealer's lot, retail stores, and even cargo ships. There, too — as in his portraits, nudes, and still lifes — he manages to find abstracted beauty and emotional significance in the interactions of light, color, and air." — Peter Trippi, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, January 2017 Gleiter has achieved significant recognition through multiple "Best of Show" awards at major American plein air competitions, along with certificates of commendation from the Russian Academy of Arts. His exhibitions span from solo shows at Gallery 1261 in Denver and SANDAU&LEO in Berlin to group exhibitions at prestigious venues including the Moscow Museum of Modern Art. He is represented by select galleries across the United States including Abend Gallery. Recent exhibitions include "Migration" (2022) and "The Seasons" (2017) at Gallery 1261, "Im wechselndem Licht" (2024) at SANDAU&LEO Berlin, and participation in "Icons for a New West" (2025). He has served as judge for the International Plein Air Salon and other competitions. Currently residing between Germany and Burgundy, France, Gleiter continues to capture the atmospheric beauty and emotional resonance of landscapes worldwide. Ulrich Gleiter – Curriculum Vitae Contemporary Landscape Painter Born 1977, Saarbrücken, Germany Education 2004-2010 Repin Academy (Institute), Saint Petersburg, Russia 2002-2003 Surikov Institute, Moscow, Russia (Exchange) 2000-2004 Dresden Academy of Fine Arts, Germany Solo and Two-Person Exhibitions 2024 Two-person show, "Im wechselndem Licht", SANDAU&LEO, Berlin 2022 Exhibition, "Vor der Natur", SANDAU&LEO, Berlin 2022 Solo exhibition "Migration", Gallery 1261, Denver, CO, USA 2020 Solo Exhibition, Gallery 1261, Denver, CO, USA 2020 Two-person show "Das Färben der Tage", SANDAU&LEO Gallery, Berlin 2018 Two-person show, "Im Park", SANDAU&LEO Gallery, Berlin 2017 Solo exhibition "The Seasons", Gallery 1261, Denver, CO, USA 2017 Solo Show "Landschaften", Gallery LEO.COPPI, Berlin 2017 Solo exhibition, Russian Academy of Arts, Saint Petersburg, Russia 2015 Two-person exhibition "Under the Same Sun", Gallery 1261, Denver, CO, USA 2014 Two-person show, Gallery LEO.COPPI, Berlin 2012 Solo exhibition, Gallery LEO.COPPI, Berlin Select Group Exhibitions 2020s 2025 "Bilder der Musik", Galerie im Elysée, Hamburg, Germany 2025 "Icons for a New West", Denver, CO, USA 2024 "20th Anniversary Show", Gallery 1261, Denver, CO, USA 2024 "Land of Legends. Paintings of Brittany", Heinrich-Blunck Museum, Kiel, Germany 2023 "Naturalism Now", Gallery 1261, Denver, CO, USA 2022 "Love Calls Us to the Things of this World", University of Central Missouri 2022 "Dem Flüchtigen Dauer verleihen", Gotisches Haus, Berlin, Germany 2021 "Es wächst", SANDAU&LEO Gallery, Berlin, Germany 2021 "Expressions of Interior Life", Parker Arts Center, CO, USA 2020 "The Great Impasto", Manitou Galleries, Santa Fe, NM, USA 2020 Curtis Center for the Arts, CO, USA 2010s 2017 "PERSPEKTIVE", LEO.COPPI, Berlin, Germany 2016 "Large Works Gallery", Gallery 1261, Denver, CO, USA 2016 "SPACES", Gallery 1261, Denver, CO, USA 2016 "Group show XIII", Gallery 1261, Denver, CO, USA 2014-2024 "Windows to the Divine", Denver, CO, USA 2014 "AUGENBLICK", LEO.COPPI, Berlin, Germany 2013 "New Works, New Voices", Gallery 1261, CO, USA 2013 "SHKOLA", Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Moscow, Russia 2013 "Rethinking Western", Gallery 1261, CO, USA 2012-2022 Coors Art Exhibit, Denver, CO, USA 2000s 2009 Gallery Dieter Fuhrmann, Munich, Germany 2008-2009 Saint Petersburg Artists Union, Russia 2003 Moscow Central House of Artists, Kulich Gallery, Moscow, Russia Art Fairs 2024 San Francisco Art Fair, with Gallery Sausalito, CA, USA 2018 POSITIONS fair, Berlin, Germany 2015-2022 art KARLSRUHE, Germany, with Galleries LEO.COPPI, SANDAU&LEO 2015 Art.Fair, Cologne, Germany, with Gallery LEO.COPPI Awards and Honors 2018 Judge of awards, 8th International Plein Air Salon, USA 2013 Judge of awards, Plein Air Rockies, CO, USA 2013 Certificate of Commendation, Russian Academy of Arts, Moscow, Russia 2010, 2011 "Best of Show" and "Award of Excellence", Plein Air Rockies, CO, USA 2010 "Best of Show", Wyoming Plein Air Competition, USA 2010 "Best of Show", Frank-Bette-Paintout, Alameda, CA, USA 2010 Certificate of Commendation, Russian Academy of Arts, Moscow, Russia Professional Activities 2012-2016, 2023 Faculty member/Speaker, Plein Air Convention (Monterey, CA; Tucson, AZ; Las Vegas, NV) 2017 Lecture, The Coppini Academy, San Antonio, TX 2011 Lecture, E. L. Blumenschein Historic Museums, Taos, NM Publications Magazines: Fine Art Connoisseur, American Art Collector, Plein Air Magazine, Southwest Art Magazine, Outdoor Painter Books: "The Art of Plein Air Painting" by Stephen M. Doherty, Monacelli Press (2017); "Studio of V.S. Pesikov," Press of the Russian Academy of Art (2014) Instructional Video: "Bold Russian Impressionism with Ulrich Gleiter" (DVD, 2013, Streamline Publishing Inc.) Current Residence Germany and Burgundy, France