Ulrike Schmelter
"Water and cloudscapes - places of longing in our time.
Water as the basis of all life is the theme I deal with in many ways. Water runs like a common thread through my artistic work, on the one hand abstract, deep and irrepressible in its original form, on the other hand as a landscape or - in a different aggregate state - as clouds.
I developed a special technique for depicting water during my studies and perfected it in the course of my artistic career: I don't paint these works at an easel - the paintings, which are mounted on stretcher frames, lie almost exclusively on a table during their creation process. Layer by layer of liquefied colour is guided into its intended place with a spatula. There is no brushstroke to be seen here - the spatula paints and draws the traces of the water. The many successive layers of paint create an impression of depth and three-dimensionality of the wet element. In most of the large-format works, the final stage of the process takes place at the easel to emphasise the perspective.
Why my early artistic interest in water? It is my respect for this precious element, both life-giving and destructive. I prefer to spend time near by rather than in the water, studying it for hours on end and capturing it in my mind. It is my memories and emotions that I later translate onto canvas in my studio - detached from a specific moment.
My works are therefore not based on photographs. They are not realistic depictions of concrete moments, but rather the capture of moods, the fascination of the moment. "
Water as the basis of all life is the theme I deal with in many ways. Water runs like a common thread through my artistic work, on the one hand abstract, deep and irrepressible in its original form, on the other hand as a landscape or - in a different aggregate state - as clouds.
I developed a special technique for depicting water during my studies and perfected it in the course of my artistic career: I don't paint these works at an easel - the paintings, which are mounted on stretcher frames, lie almost exclusively on a table during their creation process. Layer by layer of liquefied colour is guided into its intended place with a spatula. There is no brushstroke to be seen here - the spatula paints and draws the traces of the water. The many successive layers of paint create an impression of depth and three-dimensionality of the wet element. In most of the large-format works, the final stage of the process takes place at the easel to emphasise the perspective.
Why my early artistic interest in water? It is my respect for this precious element, both life-giving and destructive. I prefer to spend time near by rather than in the water, studying it for hours on end and capturing it in my mind. It is my memories and emotions that I later translate onto canvas in my studio - detached from a specific moment.
My works are therefore not based on photographs. They are not realistic depictions of concrete moments, but rather the capture of moods, the fascination of the moment. "
Falling I
Acrylic on canvas
2025
80 x 80 cm
2025
80 x 80 cm
Between the Days
Acrylic on canvas
2025
80 x 80 cm
2025
80 x 80 cm
Levantine Coast
Acrylic on canvas
2024
60 x 80 cm
2024
60 x 80 cm
Dancing with the Sea
Acrylic on canvas
2024
100 x 140 cm
2024
100 x 140 cm
Ulrike Schmelter
Ulrike Anna Schmelter is a German Artist, born in Dortmund, lives and works as a freelance artist in Berlin and Denia (Valencia).
Lives in Berlin since 2000,
2013-2018 studied painting at the Akademie für Malerei Berlin. 2018 Graduated and appointed master student of Ute Wöllmann.
2019 foundation of the artist group K11, since then active member with exhibition activities in Germany and Austria.
Member of GEDOK Berlin since 2021, visual arts section, as well as member of BBK Berlin and KunstHaus Potsdam
Lives in Berlin since 2000,
2013-2018 studied painting at the Akademie für Malerei Berlin. 2018 Graduated and appointed master student of Ute Wöllmann.
2019 foundation of the artist group K11, since then active member with exhibition activities in Germany and Austria.
Member of GEDOK Berlin since 2021, visual arts section, as well as member of BBK Berlin and KunstHaus Potsdam
Participation in Art Fairs
2023 Art Karlsruhe, Gallery Javier Román (Málaga)
2022 Estampa, Madrid, Javier Román Gallery (Málaga)
2022 Art Karlsruhe, Javier Román Gallery (Malaga)
2020 Contemporary Art Ruhr C.A.R., Zeche Zollverein Essen, ROOT Gallery (Berlin)
2020 Art Marbella, Van Gogh Art Gallery (Madrid)
2020 Art Karlsruhe, ROOT Gallery (Berlin)
Solo exhibitions/duo shows
2024 "WasserWelten", gallery m beck, Homburg
2024 "Traumlandschaften", duo show, Gerdi Gutperle art space, Viernheim
2024 "SEHnsucht", duo show, chapter house museums Bad Hersfeld
2023 "Meer unter der Elbe", museum ship Rickmer Rickmers, Hamburg
2022 "NATÜRlich ZWEI", duo show, Kunstverein Bad Godesberg, Bonn
2019 "Diesseits von Arcadien", duo show, Studio-Galerie Transform Berlin
2018 Exhibition on the occasion of the public presentation at the end of the master's programme, Akademie für Malerei Berlin
2017 "Faszination des Augenblicks: Wasser und Wolken“", Aagaard Gallery Berlin
2016 Exhibition on the occasion of the public presentation for admission to the Master's programme, Akademie für Malerei Berlin
2013 Exhibition on the occasion of the public presentation for admission to the main study programme, Akademie für Malerei Berlin
Group exhibitions (excerpt)
2025 "Blickwinkel 25", members' exhibition Kunstverein KunstHaus Potsdam
2024 "Lebenselixier" GEDOK Gallery Berlin
2023 "Nur geträumt?", Bad Aibling Art Association
2023 "Wasser - alles fließt", GEDOK Gallery Berlin
2023 "Tempus Fluit", Kunsthalle Brennabor, artist group K11
2023 Members' exhibition 22/23, Kunstverein KunstHaus Potsdam
2022 "Beyond Paper", papermaking museum Steyrermühl, Austria, artist group K11
2022 "SehNsucht", GEDOK Gallery Berlin
2021 "Kaleidoscope11", Gallery Salon Halit Art, Berlin, artist group K11
2021 New entries GEDOK Berlin, Gallery GEDOK Berlin
2020 "Terra Marique", CarlsArt78 Eckernförde, group of artists K11
2020 "No theme", Kunstverein KunstHaus Potsdam
2019 Artists' group K11 "Unterirdisch - Überirdisch", Kunstbunker Berlin, Artists' group K11
2019 "Überfliessende Himmel", Winterkirche Sternberg
2018 "Überfluss - Alles fließt" by lecturers, graduates and students of the Akademie für Malerei Berlin
2017 "Land in Sicht" by lecturers, graduates and students of the Akademie für Malerei Berlin
2017 15th Free North Berlin Art Exhibition
Permanent exhibition
Galería O, Essen
Publications
"Ulrike Schmelter, SOUL OF WATER. SOUL OF NATURE", published by Naumann Beck, 2024
"Künstlerinnengruppe K11", catalogue on the occasion of the exhibition of the artist group K11 at Kunstbunker Berlin, Artist Homes Gallery, Berlin 2020
"Ulrike Schmelter", master student catalogue for the completion of art studies, Akademie für Malerei 2018
2023 Art Karlsruhe, Gallery Javier Román (Málaga)
2022 Estampa, Madrid, Javier Román Gallery (Málaga)
2022 Art Karlsruhe, Javier Román Gallery (Malaga)
2020 Contemporary Art Ruhr C.A.R., Zeche Zollverein Essen, ROOT Gallery (Berlin)
2020 Art Marbella, Van Gogh Art Gallery (Madrid)
2020 Art Karlsruhe, ROOT Gallery (Berlin)
Solo exhibitions/duo shows
2024 "WasserWelten", gallery m beck, Homburg
2024 "Traumlandschaften", duo show, Gerdi Gutperle art space, Viernheim
2024 "SEHnsucht", duo show, chapter house museums Bad Hersfeld
2023 "Meer unter der Elbe", museum ship Rickmer Rickmers, Hamburg
2022 "NATÜRlich ZWEI", duo show, Kunstverein Bad Godesberg, Bonn
2019 "Diesseits von Arcadien", duo show, Studio-Galerie Transform Berlin
2018 Exhibition on the occasion of the public presentation at the end of the master's programme, Akademie für Malerei Berlin
2017 "Faszination des Augenblicks: Wasser und Wolken“", Aagaard Gallery Berlin
2016 Exhibition on the occasion of the public presentation for admission to the Master's programme, Akademie für Malerei Berlin
2013 Exhibition on the occasion of the public presentation for admission to the main study programme, Akademie für Malerei Berlin
Group exhibitions (excerpt)
2025 "Blickwinkel 25", members' exhibition Kunstverein KunstHaus Potsdam
2024 "Lebenselixier" GEDOK Gallery Berlin
2023 "Nur geträumt?", Bad Aibling Art Association
2023 "Wasser - alles fließt", GEDOK Gallery Berlin
2023 "Tempus Fluit", Kunsthalle Brennabor, artist group K11
2023 Members' exhibition 22/23, Kunstverein KunstHaus Potsdam
2022 "Beyond Paper", papermaking museum Steyrermühl, Austria, artist group K11
2022 "SehNsucht", GEDOK Gallery Berlin
2021 "Kaleidoscope11", Gallery Salon Halit Art, Berlin, artist group K11
2021 New entries GEDOK Berlin, Gallery GEDOK Berlin
2020 "Terra Marique", CarlsArt78 Eckernförde, group of artists K11
2020 "No theme", Kunstverein KunstHaus Potsdam
2019 Artists' group K11 "Unterirdisch - Überirdisch", Kunstbunker Berlin, Artists' group K11
2019 "Überfliessende Himmel", Winterkirche Sternberg
2018 "Überfluss - Alles fließt" by lecturers, graduates and students of the Akademie für Malerei Berlin
2017 "Land in Sicht" by lecturers, graduates and students of the Akademie für Malerei Berlin
2017 15th Free North Berlin Art Exhibition
Permanent exhibition
Galería O, Essen
Publications
"Ulrike Schmelter, SOUL OF WATER. SOUL OF NATURE", published by Naumann Beck, 2024
"Künstlerinnengruppe K11", catalogue on the occasion of the exhibition of the artist group K11 at Kunstbunker Berlin, Artist Homes Gallery, Berlin 2020
"Ulrike Schmelter", master student catalogue for the completion of art studies, Akademie für Malerei 2018
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