Secil Erel

I am an internationally known, London-based, Turkish-British artist with studios in London and Istanbul.
The aim of myself as an artist, that create powerful abstract works of art, is to connect reality and beyond reality, in addition to directing my audience to dream, feel and think, and to activate their inner creativity.
I earned her BFA in 2003 and MFA in 2007 in painting from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in Istanbul. Over the past two decades, I have actively participated in solo and group exhibitions across the UK, Europe, US, and Turkiye. I have authored an artist book in collaboration with the Istanbul Graphic Museum of Arts and exhibition monographs for her solo shows at Gallery Zilberman, Adas and Gallery Milli Reasurans.

I consider myself a dreamer who thrives on the anticipation of the unknown future and abstract concepts. As an artist, I endeavour to tap into the pure essence that transcends time and space, infusing my paintings with life devoid of any specific identities. Instead, I construct imaginative realms that bridge the gap between spirit and existence.
Colour, light, and textural layers serve as the foundational elements of her artwork. By channeling the emotions, senses, and observations onto canvases...

EDUCATION
2004-2007 MFA Institute of Social Science Painting, Istanbul Mimar Sinan Fine Art University, Turkey 1999-2003 BFA Painting,
Istanbul Mimar Sinan Fine Art University, Turkey
AWARDS &SCHOLARSHIP
2021 Royal Academy of Arts, Summer Exhibition
2019 LCN, EU Artist Business Development, Scholarship 2016 Artist Of The Year Award by Farplas
2009 RH + Young Artist /2008, Private Award
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2016 La Maison de Barbara, Ayvalık, Turkey 2015 Trelex Residency, Geneva, Switzerland

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 Being; space adasist,Istanbul
2023 Being: Limitless Limited, Kunst Matrix Galeri&Showroom, London
2019 A Separate Reality, Gallery Milli Reasurans, Istanbul
2017 Possibilities, Work at the Yard, New York
2016 Bird’s Eye View, Siyah Beyaz Gallery, Ankara
2016 As Is, Gallery Merkur, Istanbul
2014 Territory, Gallery Zilberman, İstanbul
2012 The Initial Home - Leia, AlanIstanbul , Istanbul
2011 Simple Present Tense, CDA Projects, Istanbul
2009 Lonely Moment, Mithatpaşa Art Gallery, Ziraat Bank, Ankara 2001 The End , Personal Studio Space, İstanbul
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 Reduction to Satire, NADA Curated by Fatos Ustek, NewYork 2022 Work On Papaer4, Blue shop Cottege, London
2022 Habitat, Contemporary Six, Manchester
2021 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London
2021 Satellites, Rise Art, London
2021 Non Prescription II, Ekav Art gallery, Istanbul
2020 Idle Thoughts, Gallery Soho Revue, London
2020 Abstract Art, Rise Art, Venue, London
2018 99 Square, Gallery Arton, Istanbul
2018 Collection, Arab British Chamber of Commerce, London
2018 FICF, Germany & Netherland
2018 Less is Bore, Artnivo, Istanbul
2017 Interstices, Art Else Where, Stour Space Gallery, London
2017 Schnittstelle Istanbul, Eller Kultur Bah...