Master artist Mehmet Güleryüz has passed away

Mehmet Güleryüz, one of the leading figures of Turkish art, has passed away in Paris at the age of 86 after a long battle with cancer. 

Güleryüz, who had been receiving treatment in Paris for some time, was known for his contributions to Turkish painting. The artist was particularly recognized for his figurative works and powerful lines. Throughout his artistic career, Güleryüz held many significant exhibitions, and his works received great attention internationally.

Mehmet Güleryüz's art focused on social criticism and the theme of individual freedom. By frequently depicting human figures and facial expressions in a dramatic way in his works, he succeeded in offering his audience deep emotional experiences.

WHO IS MEHMET GÜLERYÜZ?

Mehmet Güleryüz was a Turkish painter, writer, and theater artist. Coming from a family of Georgian descent, the artist completed his primary and secondary education before attending Saint Benoit French High School. In 1958, he entered the Painting Department of the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts, known today as the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, and graduated at the top of his class in 1966.

During his education at the Academy, he also devoted time to theater studies to develop his acting skills, and in 1963, he took his first steps into professional acting at the Arena Theater, directed by Asaf Çiğiltepe. That same year, he opened his first solo exhibition and began his artistic career.

Güleryüz went to Paris on a state scholarship, where he specialized in painting and lithography, created his first sculptures, and improved himself in the fields of stone printing and high painting.

He returned to Turkey in 1975 and worked as a lecturer at the academy from which he graduated for five years. In 1980, he resigned from his position and went to New York, where he stayed until 1985. Upon his return to Turkey, he provided art education in his own studio until 2000 and published the art magazine titled Kalın in 1986.

In 1988, he presented his 25 years of experience in his first retrospective exhibition in Istanbul, accompanied by a text by Nan Freeman. In 1989, he assumed the role of founding president of the International Association of Plastic Arts, a position he held until 1992. He carried out major projects in Ankara and Istanbul in 1991 and 1992.

In 1998, during the Presidency of Süleyman Demirel, he applied to the Council of State for the cancellation of the "State Artist" title he had received, and these titles were revoked in 2000.

Güleryüz, who began living in Paris in 2013, continued his work in the art studio he established there. 

Awards

1966 Graduation Competition First Prize

1979 Sedat Simavi Foundation Award, Istanbul State Fine Arts Festival (Gold Medal)

1987 International Alexandria Biennale, Third Prize

1990 Istanbul Education and Culture Foundation, Painter of the Year

1995 Nokta Magazine Peak of the Year Plastic Arts Award

2000-2001 Artist of the Year, Ankara Art Association

2003 Honorary Award in Painting, Beykent University

2007 20th Festival International des Arts Plastiques - Mahres - Tunisia Honorary Award

2007 2nd Golden Tulip Fine Arts 'Best Painter' Award

Collections featuring his works

Istanbul State Museum of Painting and Sculpture

Ankara State Museum of Painting and Sculpture

Istanbul Modern Art Museum

Sakıp Sabancı Collection

Central Bank Contemporary Turkish Painting Collection

French Ministry of Culture Collection

Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture Collection

Eczacıbaşı Collection

New York University Collection

Karl Hermann Klock Collection, Duisburg

Theater plays he participated in

1960 Academy Theater - City Girl

1960 Zahne-Z - 10 People in the Sun

1961 Academy Theater

1961 Step Theater - The Rope

1963 Arena Theater - Ubu Roi

1963 Arena Theater - The Good Soldier Schweik

1963 Arena Theater - The Heads of Others

1963 Arena Theater - The Lost Letter

1998-2001 Istanbul State Theater - An Old Clown Wanted for a Small Job

TV series and films he acted in

1990 Kurtuluş

1994 Bir Yaz Yağmuru

1996 Köstebek

1997 Kuşatma

1997 Bir Doğu Masalı

2003 Crude

2007 Sis ve Gece