American, b. 1954, lives and works in Minneapolis, Minnesota
carlbretzke.com

Carl Bretzke is a representational painter who specializes in urban scenes and Plein Air landscapes. often painting the juxtaposition of the mundane and the dramatic. Vivid colors set off by surrounding neutrals, diagonal elements, value contrast and prominent brush strokes, create intrigue alongside the familiar. He trained under notable landscape painter Joseph Paquet. Bretzke holds the distinction of winning in 2016 alone, the Carmel Art Festival’s Plein Air Magazine Award Of Excellence with 1st Place in Quick Paint, the Plein Air Magazine Salon $15K Grand Prize, and1st Place award in Plein Air, Tequesta, Florida.

Carl Bretzke holds an MD degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School and now practices only part-time as a radiologist. His undergraduate degree is from the University of Colorado, where he also acquired a minor in Fine Art.

Carl Bretzke's paintings have been exhibited extensively in Minnesota, California, New York, Washington, DC and other venues across the country.