Arkin Demirel

Arkin Demirel (born 1979) is a French-Turkish contemporary abstract artist based in Paris.

Through his paintings, Demirel seeks to transcend the limits of artistic expression, creating works that invite viewers on an intimate inner journey. His abstract compositions are distinguished by a subtle musicality, bold color contrasts, and a distinctive verticality that reflects both altruism and spiritual introspection.

Drawing on metaphors of sea, sky, earth, and metal, his creations explore themes of timeless fluidity, rebirth, and eternity. Successive layers of abstract lines convey the weight of silence and the importance of nuance, evoking moments of luminous pause, muffled scintillation, and iridescences touched by life and hope.

Deeply influenced by his dual heritage and childhood memories of migration, Demirel weaves delicate connections between cultures and eras. His work also draws inspiration from the broken truths of the past, addressing collective wounds that remain unspoken. Through his canvases, he channels a cathartic process—repairing, soothing, and illuminating darkness with grace.

Often described as a master of material and minimal gesture, Demirel creates a rich interplay between satin blacks and translucent white...

Arkin Demirel is a self-taught artist who began his creative exploration in Izmir, Turkey, discovering origami as a child through a television program. This early fascination with folded forms nurtured his sensitivity to geometry and abstraction, which later found expression in his paintings.

Now based in Paris, he continues to evolve his practice through a rigorous personal process that combines intuitive exploration with a deep reflection on light, space, and cultural memory.

• 2022: Group exhibition, Art Nodes, Common Sense Paris by Asiatides – Paris, France
• 2016: One of his paintings was selected and curated by the Saatchi Gallery team for their official Instagram page, highlighting the distinctive quality and resonance of his abstract visual language
• 2014: Solo exhibition, Konbi + Yodog – Paris, France

Demirel’s work has also been shown in various contemporary art contexts in France, often appreciated for its dynamic structures and the delicate balance between abstraction and figuration.