Ulrich Erben is born in 1940 in Dusseldorf. Between 1958 and 1965 Erben studies at the art academies in Hamburg and Urbino. During this period, his main interest is due to the exploration of graphic techniques. Before returning to his hometown Dusseldorf in 1966, he moreover attends seminars at academies in Venice and Berlin.
After an extended stay in New York in 1967, he applies himself more and more to Concrete Painting. He creates his first white monochrome painting in 1968. In 1974 he receives the Promotion price Nordrhein-Westfalen for fine art. From the late 1970s, he begins to work with pure, unbroken colours, applied to produce the finest gradations. The subtle structures formed hereby, often only reveal themselves to the viewer with time, while immediately commencing to flicker and vibrate in front of their eyes. Frequently, this leaves a vivid impression of plasticity on the two-dimensional surface. From 1980 up until his retirement with emeritus status in 2005, Erben teaches as a Professor at the Kunstakademie Münster. 1986 he is awarded with Konrad-von-Soest-Price. Ulrich Erben lives and works in Düsseldorf and Bagnoregio in Latio/Italy.

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