Ulrich Erben at Rolando Anselmi, Rome

Rolando Anselmi is pleased to present Oltre la Linea, the first solo exhibition by Ulrich Erben at the gallery. Erben, whose work is rooted in the geometric abstraction experimentation of post-war Germany, has developed a formal language centered on the exploration of color as a primary element. His artistic journey has evolved through various bodies of work that reflect an increasingly refined and conceptual approach to the use of color, light and spatial dimension. Erben explores how color influences the perception of space, creating works often composed of pure, well-defined color fields and characterized by the use of simple geometries. Despite the precise, geometric forms, such as squares or rectangles, his works often maintain a poetic and emotional quality, evoking a spiritual dimension.

The exhibited works belongs to his most recent research, where sharply defined central horizontal lines take on a dominant role, dividing the pictorial plane into two mirrored units. Erben creates compositions where edges, contact points, and divisions between surfaces emerge through the dynamic of chromatic interactions, where colors either blend or contrast. Through these geometric shapes and fluid color fields, light appears to move across the surfaces in a tangible way, emphasizing transitions between different pictorial planes. The contours and lines shift from precise and structured to dynamic and fluid, creating visual effects that challenge the viewer’s perception. Deeply inspired by the landscapes of Italy and the Lower Rhine region, these central lines, echoing horizons, enable the exploration of spatial dynamics, further enriching the dialogue between light, surface, and color, and investigating how these elements interact and influence each other within the artwork and in relation to its surrounding environment.

Ulrich Erben (b. 1940, Düsseldorf) lives and works in Düsseldorf and Bagnoregio. His work has been shown in museums and institutions such as: Museum Ludwig (Koblenz, 2024), Museum Josef Albers Quadrat (Bottrop, 2024), MKM Museum Küppersmühle (Duisburg, 2023), Museum Kurhaus Kleve (Kleve, 2022, 2010), MKM Museum Küppersmühle (Duisburg, 2021), Kunstmuseum Bayreuth (Bayreuth, 2019), Josef Albers Museum (Quadrat, 2019), Museum Bochum (Bochum, 2018), Museum Goch (Goch, 2017-2016), Fondazione Zappettini (Milan, 2013), Museum DKM (Duisburg, 2011), Kunstverein Gelsenkirchen (Gelsenkirchen, 2006-2005), Stiftung DKM (Duisburg, 2005), Kunstmuseum Dieselkraftwerk Cottbus (Cottbus, 2004-2003), Museum Wiesbaden (Wiesbaden, 2003), Shiga Museum of Modern Art (Osaka, 1992), Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen (Düsseldorf, 1990), Kunst in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Munich, 1986-1985), Nationalgalerie Berlin (Berlin, 1985), Städtische Kunsthalle (Mannheim, 1984), Kunsthalle Tübingen (Tübingen, 1981), Städtisches Museum Leverkusen (Leverkusen, 1979), Documenta VI (Kassel, 1977). His works are also in permanent collections such as Daimler Art Collection Stuttgart / Berlin, Kunsthalle Bremen, Kunstmuseum Moritzburg Halle, Kunstpalast and Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen Düsseldorf, LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur Münster, Museum Kurhaus Kleve, Pinakothek der Moderne Munich, Sammlung zeitgenössischer Kunst der Bundesrepublik Deutschland Bonn, Schwauerk Sindelfingen, Von der Heydt-Museum Wuppertal.