Nurettin Erkan

Nurettin Erkan graduated in 1993 from the Department of Painting at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, formerly known as Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts. While still a student, he held his first solo exhibition in 1992 at the Istanbul Press Museum. That same year, he founded the Akdeniz School of Fine Arts, where he began teaching painting. Approximately 1,500 students attended his courses, many of whom later pursued professional careers in the art world, both in Turkey and abroad.


In 2003, Erkan was invited to London for his first international exhibition. Since then, he has held numerous solo exhibitions and participated in group shows across Europe, especially in cities like London and Istanbul.


In 2005, he was elected to the executive board of the Turkish Committee of the International Association of Plastic Arts, affiliated with UNESCO. During this period, he curated large-scale exhibitions both at the association’s gallery and at the TÜYAP Istanbul Art Fair, one of the most significant art fairs in the region and in Europe. At TÜYAP, he also exhibited a monumental painting-installation measuring 6.5 x 25 meters (82 ft.), in memory of the civilians killed during the massacres against the Kurdish people. In addition to these e...

Mimar Sinan University
Fine Arts Faculty, Painting Department
Istanbul Turkey

Solo Exhibitions
2024
"SCULPTING IN TIME"
Curator: Gulten Yalmanbas

Gala Gallery
G/G Artconnection
Istanbul, Turkey

2014
"KATABASIS"
Writer: Prof. Vinay Dharwadker

ARTNEXT ISTANBUL
Contemporary Art Space
Istanbul, Turkey

2012
"STONE/BLACK/COLOR"
Gumusluk Academy Galleries
Bodrum, Turkey

2011
"DUR JI WELAT"
Overture Center for the Arts
Madison, Wisconsin, USA

2010
"STONES/WOMEN/ASHES"
Writer: Lutfiye Bozdag

Karsi Sanat Gallery
Istanbul, Turkey

2008
"UNTITLED"
Altan Gallery
Adana, Turkey

2006
"NOCTURNE 2"
Galerie Christine Colas
Paris, France

2005
"NOCTURNE 1"
Istanbul Chamber of Industry Odakule
Istanbul, Turkey

2003
"BODIES IN SPACE 4"
A Art Gallery
Istanbul, Turkey

2003
"ANGELS IN THE STAGE"
Writer: Levent Çalıkoğlu (Director of Istanbul Modern Museum)

Arcola Gallery
London, UK

2002
"FOREIGNER"
Writers: Cem Mumcu, Özlem Hemiş Öztürk
Curator: Nida Nevra Savcılıoğlu

Ataturk Culture Center
Istanbul, Turkey

2001
"DRAWINGS"
Museum of Press
Istanbul, Turkey

2001
"BODIES IN SPACE 3"
Istanbul, Turkey

2001
"BODIES IN SPACE 2"
Ekav Art Gallery
Istanbul, Turkey

1995
"BODIES IN SPACE 1"
Triada Gallery
Istanbul, Turkey

1992
"N. ERKAN SOLO SHOW"
Museum of Press
Istanbul, Turkey

Group Exhibitions
2025
"WHEREVER HOME IS"
Jame...