Carl Bretzke is a representational painter who specializes in urban scenes, nocturnes, and plein-air landscapes. He is a member of the Plein Air Painters of America since 2021. Carl's work has been exhibited extensively in Minnesota and California, including the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Carl's work has been described in the Washington Post as "simultaneously intimate and detached…The artist's unadorned style recalls Edward Hopper and The Ashcan school."
Carl holds an MD degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. His undergraduate degree is from the University of Colorado, where he also received a minor in Fine Art. Carl has also trained extensively under Plein Air Painters of America signature artist Joseph Paquet.
2023:
-Catalina Island Wild Side Art Show, Newport Beach, CA 10/23
-Two Person Show, Grenning Gallery, Sag Harbor, NY, Oct-Nov 2023
-Plein Air Painters of America Museum Show, Cous Sharp Museum, Oct 2023, Taos, NM
-Plein Air Live (On Line), Faculty Artist Demo, 3/23
-Plein Air Painters of America Museum Show, Booth Museum, Oct-Feb 6 ,2023, Cartersville, GA
2022:
-Two Person Show, Grenning Gallery, Oct-Nov 6, 2022, Sag Harbor, NY
-Three Person Show, Grenning Gallery, April 9 - May 8, 2022, Sag Harbor, NY
-Plein Air Convention and Expo, Faculty Artist Main Stage Presentation, Sante Fe, NM, 5/22
-Susan Calloway Fine Arts, Feb 2022 Group Landscape Show, Washington, DC
2021
-Two Person Show, Grenning Gallery, May 8 - June 1 2021, Sag Harbor, NY
2020
-Solo Show, Grenning Gallery, May 9 - June 1 2020, Sag Harbor, NY
-Coor's Western Art Show, Denver, CO, January 2020
2019
-Grenning Gallery May 2019, Carl Bretzke: Best in Show, Sag Harbor, NY
2018
-Bauman | Bretzke, Grenning Gallery May 2018, Sag Harbor, NY
2017
-Morfis | Bretzke, Grenning Gallery May 2017, Sag Harbor, NY
2016
-Russian - American Painting Alliance, Grenning Gallery November 2016, Sag Harbor, NY
-3 Person Show,Grenning Gallery April 2016, Sag Harbor, NY
-Settlers West Gallery 2016, Miniatures Show, Tucson, Az
-Settlers West Gallery May 2016, Summer Show, Tucson, Az
2015
-California Impressionism 2015, Group Show, Huntington Beach, CA
-One Person Show, Susan Calloway Fine Arts 2015, Washington, DC
2014
-Two Person Show, Douglas Flanders & Associates 2014, Minneapolis, MN
-Traffic Zone 2009-2014Open Studio Show,Minneapolis, MN
AWARDS/RECOGNITION:
2023 PleinAir Grand Marais - Painting of Exceptional Merit
2023 Lighthouse Plein Air - Best Nocturne
2023 Plein Air Convention Stage Demo
2023 Plein Air Live Nocturne Demo
2022 Plein Air In The Smokies - Best Landscape
2022 LPAPA Less Is More Miniature Show- 1st Place and People's Choice
2022 Plein Air Convention Main Stage presentation and demo
2022 Lighthouse Plein Air -!st Place and Artist's Choice and Plein Air Magazine Award Of Excellence
2021 Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational - Best of Show
2021 Door County Plein Air Invitational - Best of Show
2021 Grand Marais Plein Air - Painting of Exceptional Merit Award
2021 Lighthouse Plein Air - Best Figurative / Honorable Mention
2021 Member- Plein Air Painters of America (PAPA)
2020 Laguna Beach Invitational - The Jean Stern Distinctive Merit Legacy Award
2020 Grand Marais Plein Air - 2nd Place and "Best Body Of Work"
2020 Richeson 75 International Art Competition "Landscape, Seascape and Architecture 2020 - 2nd place
2019 Grand Marais Plein Air - 1st place Nocturne Category
2019 Door County Plein Air - 3rd place
2019 Plein Air Eureka Springs - Honorable mention
2019 Plein Air Salon Finalist and Honorable Mention
2019 Lighthouse Plein Air- !st Place Quick Draw; 2nd Place Overall
2019 Maui Plein Air Invitational - Best Body of Work
2018 Plein Air Salon Oct/Nov - Best Nocturne and 2nd place overall
2018 Grand Marais Plein Air - Best of Show
2018 Door County Plein Air - Honorable Mention
2018 May BoldBrush Painting Competition - Best of Show
2018 Carmel Art Festival - 2nd place and Honorable Mention
2018 Plein Air Salon - Honorable Mention
2018 Lighthouse Plein Air - Honorable Mention
2017 Oct/Nov Plein Air Salon - Best Oil
2017 PleinAir Texas 2017 - 2nd Place
2017 Grand Marais Plein Air - 3rd Place Overall
2017 Grand Marais Plein Air Red Suspender (Previous Winner) Contest - 1st Place
2017 Carmel Art Fesitval - FAC Award of Excellence
2017 Maui Plein Air 2017 - Collector’s Choice
2017 Lighthouse Plein Air - Honorable Mention
2016 Grand Marais Plein Air - Best of Show
2016 Door County Plein Air - Best Of Show
2016 Carmel Art Festival 2016 -Plein Air Magazine Award Of Excellence -1st Place Quick Paint
2016 PleinAir Salon $15K Grand Prize
2016 Oil Painters Of America - Associate Member
2016 Lighthouse Plein Air, Tequesta, Florida - 1st Place
2015 Grand Marais Plein Air 2015 - 1st Place Quick Paint, 1st Place Red Suspenders Contest (previous Grand Marais winnners)
2015 Telluride Plein Air - 1st place by Artists' Choice
2015 Carmel Art Festival - Artists Choice Award, 2nd Place Overall and Fine Arts Connoisseur Magazine Award
2015 PleinAir Salon Feb/March 2015 edition - Best Oil
2015 Lighthouse Plein Air 2015 Jupiter, Florida - Quick Paint category, First Place
2014 Aspen Plein Air - First Place (by artists' choice)
2014 Plein Air Salon April/May 2014 Edition - First Place
2014 Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LAPAPA) Signature Member
2014/2013/2012/2011/2010 Carmel Art Festival Plein Air Competition: Juried Artist. Honorable Mention 2014/2011. Fine Art Connoisseur Emerging Artist Award 2010
2013 Laguna Plein Air Invitational: The Plein Air Magazine Sponsor Award. The Randee Higby Gallery Sponsor Award
2013 Plein Air Grand Marais: 1st place overall. 1st place Nocturne Category
2013/2012/2011 Groveland Gallery Plein Air Summer Event: Guest Artist
2013 Plein Air Salon Oct/Nov 2013 Edition - First Place
Carl Bretzkes 2019 Catalogue features scenes from Sag Harbor, Minneapolis, and more.