crab's dinner Painting

My artistic journey has been shaped by an eclectic mix of experiences, places, and disciplines. Born in Istanbul in 1985 as the middle child of three, I was drawn to various art forms from an early age, exploring different mediums to express the complex world around me. My formal education began at Istanbul University, where I pursued a degree in tannery with a focus on footwear design, leather goods, and the fashion industry. This early engagement with design and craftsmanship provided a strong foundation for my understanding of materials and the creative process. In my mid-twenties, I began to explore theatre and performance in Istanbul. The expressive and performative aspects of theatre deeply resonated with me, leading me to reconsider how narrative could be conveyed through visual art. This shift in focus convinced me, at the age of twenty-eight, to move to New York City, where I studied filmmaking and acting at the New York Film Academy. Here, I learned the power of storytelling through images, a skill that has deeply influenced my approach to painting. My time in New York was transformative. I enrolled at The Art Students League of New York, studying under the mentorship of renowned artists Robert Cenedella and Thomas Torak. At the League, I refined my technical skills and began to focus on oil painting as my primary medium. The classic techniques I learned there have allowed me to interpret modern life with a sense of timelessness, bringing depth and narrative to each piece. Balancing my life between Brooklyn and Akyaka, I continue to draw inspiration from both the vibrant urban environment of New York and the natural beauty of Turkey. My travels through North America, particularly my time spent in the Hawaiian Islands and the mountainous regions of Northern California, have deepened my appreciation for nature and its forms. I’ve studied botanicals and the intricate details of the natural world, which often find their way into my work as subtle symbols or motifs. Today, my paintings are a synthesis of these varied experiences. My medium of oil on canvas allows me to merge the classical with the contemporary, using traditional techniques to explore modern themes. Each piece is an exploration of the human condition, filtered through the lens of my diverse artistic background and the places that have influenced me.