Ernest Ullmann - South African Artist, Paintings, Sculpture 1900 - 1975

Ernest Ullmann was born in Munich, Germany 1900 - 1975

Art Education
Ernest Ullmann studied art at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts under Professor Bleecker; University of Munich - philosophy and art history under professors Popp and Heinrich Wolfflin; further art-studies in Berlin.

Short Artist Biography
- 1914 As a schoolboy Ernest Ullmann published a book on photography; during WW1 assisted as a scientific draughtsman at Munich Institute of Anthropology.
- 1920 Ernest Ullmann exhibited in Wiesbaden.
- 1920 to 1927 Art-editor of 'Auslandspost' - many sketches of public figures and events; founder and art-director of a tapestry-weaving firm.
- 1927 to 1935 Ernest Ullmann moved to Berlin; art-director of periodicals and publishing-house; designer for commercial and public organizations.
- 1935 Left Nazi Germany for South Africa.
- 1936 Ernest Ullmann settled in Johannesburg; established himself rapidly as a designer; won poster competition for Empire Exhibition.
- 1938 to 1945 Art-editor of 'The Forum'; worked in many media in the field of industrial design; began to exhibit drawings and paintings.
- 1952 Ernest Ullmann designed Free State and SWA pavilions for Van Riebeeck Festival, Cape Town.
- 1953 Designed Union Gov Pavilion at Rhodes Centenary Exhibition; official artist and designer for South African Chamber of Mines.
- 1960 Designed Government Pavilion and executed art-works for Union Festival Exhibition, Johannesburg; his numerous public commissions include mural paintings, sculpture, stained and etched glasswork, drawings, book-design and illustration; serious illness undermined his stamina repeatedly but refuse to let it interfere with his career.
- 1970 Ernest Ullmann published his autobiography 'Designs on Life'.
- 1975 Nominated first 'Citizen of the Year'; died suddenly before the award could be made.

Art Exhibitions
- 1920 First one-man art exhibition, Wiesbaden, Germany.
- 1952 Van Riebeeck Tercent Exhibition.
- 1953 Rhodes Centenary Exhibition, Bulawayo.
- 1956 First South African one-man art exhibition, Johannesburg.
- 1960 Union Festival Exhibition, Johannesburg.
- 1964 Third Quad of South African Art (Sculpture).
- 1966 Republic Fest Exhibition, Pretoria (Sculpture).
- 1971 Personal Retrospective Collection, Johannesburg.
- 1977 Loan exhibition of tapestries and drawings, Habima Theatre, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Public Art Collections
Hester Rupert Art Museum; Sandton Municipal Collection; Pietersburg Collection.

Source
Berman, E. 1994. Art & Artists of South Africa . Southern Book Publishers.

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