Ahu Akkan (d. 1980): A painter born in Ankara; she studied Painting at Hacettepe University, completed her master’s and doctoral degrees, and currently works as a lecturer at Uşak University.
Attilla Dur (b. 1967): A photographer and curator born in Gümüşhane; he graduated in Economics from METU and studied at ICP and Hunter College in New York. He has held international exhibitions such as Echoes of the Street.
Bahadır Yıldız (b. 1976): Born in Eskişehir, a graduate of Akdeniz University, Department of Sculpture; he creates large-scale sculptures, installations, and paintings using recycled materials and natural dyes, and has held solo exhibitions both in Turkey and abroad.
Bahar Kocaman (b. 1961): An artist born in Edirne, graduated from the Painting Department of Mimar Sinan University; known for her contemporary nature-themed acrylic paintings and has held 19 solo exhibitions since 1987 alongside an academic career.
Balkan Naci İslimyeli: A painter, poet, thinker, and academician born in Adapazarı; he has produced works focused on figurative abstraction, collage, verbal art, and themes of identity and de-identification, and is considered a pioneer of contemporary art in Turkey.
Behrouz Heshmat (b. October 22, 1953): An Iranian-Austrian sculptor born in Tabriz; based in Vienna, he graduated from the University of Applied Arts and is known for his sculptures on themes of migration and exile.
Berna Erkün (b. 1962): A painter born in Ankara, graduate of Mimar Sinan University, Department of Painting; she has held 10 solo exhibitions and served in the administration of the International Association of Plastic Arts, known for her abstract expressionist works with Anatolian themes.
Berna Gülbey (b. 1982): A contemporary painter born in Malatya, educated at Mimar Sinan University; she has exhibited in Turkey, the USA, and Brazil, and is known for her works dealing with the female body, body politics, and the pandemic.
Can Aytekin (b. 1970): A postmodern painter and academic born in Istanbul; he holds BFA and MFA degrees from Mimar Sinan University’s Painting Department. He has held solo exhibitions at institutions like ARTER, Meşher, and Versus, and is a faculty member at the same university.
Can Maden (b. 1961): A contemporary artist born in Istanbul, son of Sait Maden; he studied Visual Arts at Mimar Sinan University and creates works on nature and memory using mixed techniques involving water, ink, and botanical materials.
Dagmar Göğdün: A Turkish painter born in Zeitz, Germany, and raised in various countries; currently based in Istanbul, she produces poetic still lifes themed around nature and flowers.
Devabil Kara (b. 1962): Born in Şenkaya, Erzurum, a graduate and faculty member at Marmara University Faculty of Fine Arts; he has participated in national and international exhibitions in painting and printmaking.
Ebru Zarakolu (b. 1971): After studying chemistry, she turned to ceramic and glass design; she developed a “foldable ceramic paper” and creates experimental works based on the physical reactions of the material.
Elçin Persson: An artist born in Istanbul and educated at Parsons (Paris) and Nottingham Trent (UK); her oil paintings explore the relationship between nature and human-space interaction.
Emin Çizenel: A Turkish Cypriot painter who graduated from the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts in 1974; he focuses on themes of identity, island history, and abstract narrative, and also designed the flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Esra Sağlık: She completed her undergraduate, master’s, and proficiency in arts degrees at Hacettepe University’s Sculpture Department; she worked at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Art de Bourges and has been teaching sculpture at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Bodrum since 2011.
Eti Behar: A sculptor born in Istanbul; after studying art history in Istanbul and Boston between 1992–1996, she began sculpture in 1996. Her recent works focus on “activism and personal transformation.”
Fatma Tülin: After studying painting at Boğaziçi University in 1974, she worked with a scholarship in England. Since 1975, she has been creating abstract portraits that blend organic forms and the human figure and has exhibited widely in Turkey and abroad.
Ferhat Özgür: Graduated in Art Education from Gazi University in 1989, earned a doctorate at Hacettepe University, and is currently a professor at Düzce University’s Faculty of Art and Design, where he teaches “Experimental Art” and Participatory Art.
Ferit Özşen (b. 1943): A sculptor born in Taşkent (Konya); he worked in Fritz Wotruba’s studio in Vienna, founded a bronze sculpture casting studio in Istanbul, became a professor at Mimar Sinan University, and served as the Director of the Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture. He has created numerous public monuments.
Gamze Taşdan (b. 1986): Born in Istanbul; she graduated from Yıldız Technical University in Combined Arts and is known for her paintings and installations that explore themes such as gender, popular culture, and female identity.
Gül Ilgaz (b. 1962): An artist born in Istanbul and a graduate of Mimar Sinan University’s Painting Department; her work focuses on photography, video, and installation, and she has participated in major international platforms such as the 50th Venice Biennale and the Banff Centre.
Gülşah Bayraktar: A graduate of Dokuz Eylül University in 2001, she completed her master’s and PhD at Marmara and Hacettepe Universities and currently works as an assistant professor at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Bodrum Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Painting.
Güngör Taner (b. 1941): An abstract painter born in Istanbul; he graduated from Mimar Sinan University and studied at the Salzburg Summer Academy. His works are featured in many institutions in Turkey, and he continues to produce art in Istanbul.
H. Avni Öztopçu (b. 1962): Born in Erzincan; he completed his undergraduate, master’s, and proficiency in arts degrees in painting at Marmara and Mimar Sinan Universities, and currently works as an academic at Marmara University.
Halil Akdeniz (1944–2024): A painter and academician born in Antalya; he graduated from the Gazi Institute and the Berlin Academy of Fine Arts. He taught at various universities and initiated graduate programs on art theory in Anatolia.
İlayda Kepez (b. 1998): A sculptor born in Ankara; she graduated from Anadolu University Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Sculpture, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the same university.
Laleper Aytek (b. 1960): An Istanbul-based photographer, academician, and curator; she graduated in Economics from Boğaziçi University, turned to photography during her master’s studies in Norway, and later became a pioneer in commercial photography and a photography critic in Turkey.
Melih Erdoğan: An Izmir-based musician and art educator; works independently, offering insights on music and contemporary art.
Meriç Hızal (b. 1943): A sculptor and academic born in Istanbul; graduated in Chemistry from Mimar Sinan University, then studied Sculpture and later taught at several universities.
Merih Demirkol: A Turkish artist focusing on symbolism and figurative art; was the first subject of the “Young Masters” book series and has participated in major retrospective exhibitions.
Mustafa Aykurt (b. 1988): A painter and art educator born in Kayseri; he earned his undergraduate degree at Marmara University and a master’s degree from Tokyo University of the Arts, and has exhibited internationally.
Mustafa Temel: Relief artist and project coordinator in Basic Design at Marmara University Faculty of Fine Arts.
Nadide Akdeniz: A graduate of Gazi Education Institute in Painting–Graphic and retired from Istanbul/Buca Education Institute; she creates works with social, ecological, and fairy tale-like themes.
Neslihan Pala: A graduate of Mimar Sinan University Sculpture Department and professor; she focuses on public sculpture and sculpture education and has served as department head at the same university.
Nur Saygı: A freelance artist with a master’s degree in Painting from Mimar Sinan University; she creates works in the field of contemporary painting.
Özdemir Altan: A painter and academician who graduated from Mimar Sinan University’s Painting Department; he has significantly contributed to Turkish contemporary painting with works influenced by impressionism, cubism, and pop art, and has taught for many years.
Sabahat Çıkıntaş: A painter who began her art education in Yusuf Taktak’s studio; she founded her own studio in Istanbul in 2003 and continues with painting projects and children’s art education.
Seçil Erel: A contemporary artist and entrepreneur who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Painting from Mimar Sinan University; based in both Istanbul and London, she focuses on abstract painting and printmaking.
Sedef Hatapkapulu: A graduate of Mimar Sinan University, she studied under Maria Lassnig at the University of Applied Arts Vienna; her paintings, rich in bodily references, have been exhibited internationally.
Serhat Kiraz (b. 1954, Istanbul): After graduating from the State Academy of Fine Arts, he became both a conceptual artist known for producing complex spatial installations and a founder of the Art Definition Group, which pioneered conceptual art in Turkey.
Şermin Seval (b. 1961, Istanbul): Initially trained in pharmacy, she later completed a master’s degree in Painting at Işık University. Trained in the studio of Balkan Naci İslimyeli, she has held both solo and group exhibitions as a painter.
Tomur Atagök (1939–2025): A graduate of Robert College with a BFA/MFA from the USA; she was a painter, museology academician, museum curator, and author. She founded the museology master’s program at Yıldız Technical University and received the UNESCO “Artist of the Year” award.
Tuğba Öztopçu (b. 1979, Istanbul): A graduate of Marmara University’s Art Education Department, she is a photographer.
Tülay Tura Börtecene (1936–2018): A graduate of the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts, she was one of the key representatives of abstract expressionism in Turkey since the 1950s; she completed her master’s at the University of Wisconsin and was a member of the “Blue Group”.
Turan Aksoy (b. 1965, Erzincan): A postmodern painter and academic, he graduated from Gazi University’s Painting Department and earned a doctorate from the University of Central England. He is known for site-specific works reflecting individual and societal values.
Ufuk Güneş Taşkın (b. 1988, Istanbul): A sculptor who graduated from Samsun Fine Arts High School and Anadolu University Sculpture Department; continues postgraduate studies focusing on the use of found objects.
Yücel Kale (b. 1971, Istanbul): A sculptor educated at Mimar Sinan University; known for his fantastical and surreal sculptures, based in Istanbul.
Yusuf Taktak (b. 1956, Isparta): A painter and academic who graduated from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts Academy; known for works dealing with figurative abstraction and social themes. He also served as president of the International Association of Plastic Arts (UPSD).
Zehra Sargın: A graduate of Bursa Anatolian Fine Arts High School and Marmara University’s Art Education Department; known for her contemporary abstract paintings and her “Writings” series.
Zekai Ormancı: A painter and academic from Aydın; became a professor at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, founded a carpet-painting studio, and created a large-scale carpet-painting work for the Presidential Palace.
Züleyha Altıntaş (b. ~1975): A sculptor with degrees from Marmara and Yıldız Technical University Sculpture Departments; she has participated in international exhibitions with large-scale works like Invisible Labor, which merge mental and physical experience within space.
