Jan Pleitner

Jan Pleitner (* 1984 in Oldenburg) lives and works in Ostfriedland. He studied at the Düsseldorf Art Academy under Jörg Immendorff and completed his master’s degree under Tal R in 2010. 

While Jan Pleitner’s practice initially included figurative images, his large-format paintings now express a dedicated investigation of abstraction and the fundamental components of image-making. His compositions arise intuitively through a highly physical yet meditative process, lending his images a quality that is at once spiritual and tactile. Pleitner creates striking works where prismatic shards of colour seem to oscillate between space and surface, and allusions to natural forms and stained glass windows bear witness to the artist’s interest in science fiction and psychedelia.

Jan Pleitner considers himself as a traditionalist. With a skillful balance of improvisation and tension, his works are certainly informed by Impressionism and Abstract Expressionism, while also claiming a distinctly contemporary position. Charged with light and jostling movement, his paintings act as a recording device for meditation and reflection. 

Jan Pleitner has had numerous solo exhibitions, including at the Kunsthalle Emden, DE; Galerie Haverkampf Leistenschneider, Berlin, DE; Achenbach Hagemeier, Düsseldorf, DE; Kerlin Gallery, Dublin, IE; David Achenbach Collection, Wuppertal, DE; Kunstverein Heppenheim, DE; Ornis A. Gallery, Amsterdam, NL; MIER Gallery, Los Angeles; US Nanzuka Underground, Tokyo, JP and was represented in many group exhibitions: Ostfriesland Biennale, DE; Elephant Kunsthall, Lillehammer, NO; Ancient & Modern, London, UK; Stadtmuseum Oldenburg, DE; Contemporary Fine Arts, Berlin, DE; Neuer Achener Kunstverein, Aachen, DE.

1984

Born in Oldenburg, Germany / geboren in Oldenburg, Deutschland

Lives and works in North Coast, Germany / lebt und arbeitet in Ostfriesland

Education / Ausbildug

2007

Kunstakademie, Düsseldorf

2010

Kunstakademie, Düsseldorf, Masterclass of Tal R

Selected Solo Exhibitions / Ausgewählte Soloausstellungen

2022

“Hacking Pandora’s Box”, Achenbach Hagemeier, Düsseldorf, Germany (upcoming)

“Temperaturen der Zeit” (1. Ostfrieslandbiennale) Ludgerikirche, Norden

Jan Pleitner, Kerlin Gallery, Dublin, Ireland

2020

“Syringe Concorde. Die Spritze der Einmütigkeit”, Haverkampf Galerie, Berlin, Germany

2019

“Who is the sun?”, Achenbach Hagemeier, Düsseldorf, Germany

“Could somebody please stop the time for a second?” Althuis Hofland Fine Arts, Amsterdam, Netherlands

2018

“Helios”, Kerlin Gallery, Dublin, Ireland

2017

‘EY I?’, Philipp Haverkampf Galerie, Berlin, GER

‘Ragnarök’, Parkhaus im Malkastenpark, Düsseldorf, GER

‘Nothing Is Real’, Ornis A. Gallery, Amsterdam, NL

David Achenbach Collection, Wuppertal, Germany

‘Träum Weiter‘, Kunstverein Heppenheim, Germany

(two-person exhibition with Henning Strassburger) Ornis A. Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

2016

‘The Bitter Fruits of the Jungle‘, MIER Gallery, Los Angeles

‘Von Dann Bis Jetzt, Natalia Hug‘, Cologne, Germany

‘Water for the Tribe‘, Kerlin Gallery, Dublin, Ireland

2015

‘Dark Matter Matters‘, Nanzuka Underground, Tokyo, Japan

2014

‘Painting is No Business‘, Natalia Hug, Cologne, Germany

Kurhaus Dangast, Germany

Doowylloh, with Lee Lozano, Ancient & Modern, London, UK

2013

‘Ein weiterer Stein aus der Wand‘, Stadtmuseum Oldenburg, Germany

‘Blicke hinter den Himmeln‘, Treuhand Oldenburg, Kunstfoyer am Langenweg, Germany

2012

‘Die Grenzen der trunkenen Gärten‘, Projekt Skagen 12, Skagen, Denmark

2011

‘Why is the Question – Yes is the Answer‘, Avlskarl Fine Art Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

Selected Group Exhibitions / Ausgewählte Gruppenausstellungen

2022

Ostfriesland Biennale (upcoming)

2020

Señor, señor, do you know where we’re headin’?, Achenbach Hagemeier Berlin, Germany

2018

Emotional Rescue, Elephant Kunsthall, Lillehammer, Norway

2016

‘She Might Be’, Delmes & Zander, Cologne, GER

2018

“Emotional Rescue”, Elephant Kunsthall, Lillehammer, Norway

2017

‘Die Rechte und die Linke Hand Für ein Halleluja’, David Achenbach Collection, Wuppertal, GER

2016

“Show Me Your Vital Parts, Parts Project”, Den Haag She Might Be, Delmes & Zander, Cologne

2015

“Too Good to be True”, Contemporary Fine Arts, Berlin, Germany

“Bozen Connection”, Studio Chrom, Bolzano, Italy

“By-Products”, Haus am Lùtzowplatz, Berlin, Germany Berlin

2014

“17 Abstract Paintings”, Wertheim, Cologne, Germany

“Loiterin with Intent”, Galerie Börgmann, Mönchen Gladbach, Germany

“Deep One Perfect Morning”, Kerlin Gallery, Dublin, Ireland

“Ein Steifel voll Glück”, Linzbach Tobacco, Düsseldorf, Germany

2013

“Benefizauktion”, Neuer Aachener Kunstvererin, Aachen, Germany

‘”karier”, Mikael Andersen, Berlin, Germany

2012

‘German Kleinformat 3’, Neter, Mexico City, MEX

‘Die Stummen Schreie Deiner Socken’, Plattenpalast, Berlin, GER

‘Central Horizon’, Penny Temporary, Neumünster, GER

Freies Museum Berlin, Berlin, Germany aps, PVPC, Berlin, GER

2011

Ich kann kein Bier mehr sehen’, Galerie Grundeinkommen, Berlin, GER

‘Die Böse Laune der Guten Miene’, Essential Existence Gallery, Leipzig, GER

2010

‘Sie haben gerade erst angefangen’, Oktoberbar, Düsseldorf, GER

‘The Castle of Discipline – ZPX 3’, Mischpoke, Mönchen Gladbach, GER

‘Sonderausstellung’, Gereonswall 32, Cologne, GER

‘Empire of Dust’, Representation of the State of NRW to the EU, Brussels, BEL

‘ZPX 4 – Hackers’, Raum Kalk, Cologne, Germany

2009

‘Headroom’, Projektraum Open, Düsseldorf, GER

‘ZPX 2 – Senex et Invenis Simul’, Kaserne, Düsseldorf, GER


‘Das Zeitung’, Projektraum Open, Düsseldorf, GER

2008

‘Zyclopix – Die Zyklopen bei Mutanis’, Citadelle, Düsseldorf, GER

Awards / Auszeichnungen

2013

Grant of the Kulturstiftung der Öffentlichen Versicherungen Oldenburg

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