October, 2026
The rocks turned a pinky-orange hue as the morning sun kissed them awake. We had been walking along the stones and sand since the sun was barely over the horizon. Little did I know, I was about to stumble upon an artist in the wild.
On a recent vacation, my husband and I explored Southern Utah near the Arizona border. It is an untamed area that feels equal parts grounding and awe-inspiring. That morning, our hike wound us around mesas toward Broken Arrow Cave and plein air landscape artist Ulrike Arnold.
Meeting the Artist
She wore loose white cotton pants stained rusty brown from wiping her paint-covered hands, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses. Her bare feet were unbothered by the sand now fully exposed to the mid-morning sun. Ulrike generously spent time showing us her outdoor studio, talking about her process, and sharing her artwork.
A large table, sturdy enough to stand on, was where she painted, as she often does. Nearby, a stone where she crushed rock and sand into powder sat next to neatly organized bags of previously crushed colors. In the shade of a yucca plant lay a paintbrush cemetery, brushes she could no longer use. Finished paintings lay strewn across the sand, drying in the baking sun.
As she explained to us, she collects her materials from the local landscape- sand, shale, clay, coal, volcanic ash- and turns the native minerals into paint. She has done this on nearly every continent, but since 2009, this spot in Southern Utah has been her artist home. She paints “plein air,” or in open air, inviting wind and rain to collaborate with her and transform her pieces into something unexpected, something spiritual.
Capturing the Essence of Place
A lifetime ago, when I worked for an architectural firm, I learned about the concept of “sense of place”: the idea that architectural design should harmonize with the “cultural, environmental, and historical context of a site.”. This sense of harmony has infused my thinking ever since. It’s probably what I enjoy most about exploring the stories that heirlooms hold. What does this cherished object tell me about the person’s sense of place?
The concept of “sense of place” is also why I fell in love with Ulrike’s artwork. Her paintings express her connection to the land and its history through sweeping brushstrokes or bare hands. In an ever-shifting physical environment, she captures that essence of place; she preserves its culture.
To see her work and process up close, the San Diego Art Museum is hosting a solo presentation through January 24, 2027.
To learn more about Ulrike Arnold and her artwork, visit her website at ulrikearnold.com.
