Gültekin Bilge

Gültekin Bilge (pronounced Beelgay) is a Turkish Cypriot Artist. He was born in 1945 in Ceyhan, Paphos. He studied at the Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts, working at the ateliers of Devrim Erbil, Ali Çelebi and Dinçer Erimez. He graduated from the Dinçer Erimez atelier of the Academy in 1972.

Tragically, the artist was shot in the right hand with a dumdum bullet during the 1974 war in Cyprus. His hand was saved by doctors but he lost fine motor skills and it was many years before he regained the ability to draw and paint. Despite many difficulties Gültekin maintained his artistic vision as he was determined to try to establish an original contemporary Turkish style of painting. Throughout the long years of recovery he experimented with a variety of different methods in order to develop his own signature style and technique. Very few of his works have survived from the period 1974-2005. He began to paint again professionally in 2006.

Gültekin's artwork is abstract expressionist. His artistic development can be traced through his paintings. Whilst he consistently employs vibrant colour there has been an investigative journey through form and texture. Making up for lost time he has worked at a furious pace resulting in ...

Gültekin graduated from the Dinçer Erimez atelier of the Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts in 1972. Whilst at the Academy of Fine Arts, he was working at the ateliers of Devrim Erbil, Ali Çelebi and Dinçer Erimez.

( İ.D.G.S.A İstabul Devlet Güzel Sanatlar Akademisi '72 )