MEHMET GÜLERYÜZ

MEHMET GÜLERYÜZ (1938), eserleri Galeri Soyut arşivinde yer alan sanatçılardandır. Galeri Soyut sitesinde sanatçının 5 eseri ve 4 sergisi kayıtlı (eserlerin tarih aralığı 1971–1976). Sitedeki eserlerinde en çok görülen teknikler: Kağıt üzeri karışık teknik, Desen. Eserleri hakkında bilgi ve fiyat için galeriye danışabilirsiniz.

Born in Istanbul in 1938.

He entered the Painting Department of the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts in 1958 and graduated at the top of his class in 1966. Parallel to the Academy, he studied acting at various actor studios and prominent amateur theaters. In 1963, he began his professional acting career at the Arena Theater directed by Asaf Çiğiltepe.

He held his first drawing-focused solo exhibition in 1963. Between 1970 and 1975, he specialized in painting and lithography in Paris on a state scholarship. He exhibited his first sculptures, made in Paris in 1971, in two performances at the Pont des Arts. In 1971, he held solo exhibitions at Galerie Thérèse Roussel (Perpignan), in 1972 at Galerie Luszpinski (Paris), and in 1974 again at Galerie Thérèse Roussel (Perpignan), Galerie Philippe Demay (Paris), and Galerie Graffiti (Rouen). Between 1975 and 1980, he taught at the Painting Department of the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts. Resigning from this position in 1980, he moved to New York, living there from 1980 to 1984.

He held solo exhibitions at Galerie Thérèse Roussel (Perpignan) in 1980, and at Schlesinger Boissante Gallery (New York) in 1982. In 1984, he exhibited the sculptures and engravings he had made that year at Galerie 2016 (Brussels). He returned to Istanbul in 1985. In 1987, he held another solo exhibition at Galerie 2016 (Brussels).

From 1985 to 2000, he taught art at his own workshop at BİLSAK. In 1986, he began publishing the art magazine Kalın. In 1988, he held his 25th Year Retrospective exhibition in Istanbul, organized by Galeri Nev, accompanied by a book with a text by Nan Freman.

From 1989 to 1992, he served as the Founding President of the International Association of Art (IAA) Turkey. From 1990 to 1995, he conducted a series of interviews titled Güleryüz'lü Sohbetler for Votre Beauté Magazine.

In 1991, he created the 14-painting series titled Karşı Rüzgar for permanent display in the Atrium space of the Sheraton Ankara Hotel. In 1992, he taught as a visiting lecturer at Bilkent University. In 1992, he created Çöp Masalları, consisting of 7 pieces, for the lobby of the Polat Renaissance Hotel. In 1995, he visited occupied Bosnia with the Humanitarian Initiative for Bosnia movement. Between 1998 and 2001, he played the character Pepino in the 3-person play Bir Küçük İş için Yaşlı Bir Palyaço Aranıyor at the Istanbul State Theater. With the same play, he participated in the State Theaters' tours to Duisburg and Düsseldorf.

In 2000, he was re-elected as the President of the International Association of Art Turkey, in 2001 as Eastern European President, and in 2002 he was elected as IAA Europe 2nd Vice President and a member of the IAA World Executive Board.

In 2003, he held his 40th Year Drawing Retrospective at the Yapı Kredi Kazım Taşkent Gallery.

He taught at the Yıldız Technical University Combined Arts Program between 2003 and 2005; from 1999 to 2007 at the Bilgi University Cultural Management Certificate Program; and from 2000 to 2011 at the Mehmet Güleryüz Workshop.

In 2004, his biography titled Güldüğüme Bakma, prepared for publication by Ayşegül Sönmezay, was published in the İş Cultural Publications River Interview series.

In 2005, he organized the International Association of Art European General Assembly in Istanbul. In 2005, he attended the 16th IAA World General Assembly held in Beijing and the 2nd Beijing Biennale as an IAA World Executive Board Member.

In 2007, he held his retrospective sculpture exhibition titled Oradan Oraya at the Yapı Kredi Kazım Taşkent Gallery. In 2008, he held the exhibition Elli Yıl Sanat at Galeri Nev in Ankara, accompanied by Nan Freeman's second book. On January 15, 2009, he held the 50th Year Retrospective exhibition prepared by İş Bankası at the Kibele Art Gallery, accompanied by a book with a text by Wendy Shaw.

He participated in the 2009 Mardin Contemporary Art Exhibition, the 9th Contemporary Shanghai Art Fair, and Istanbul Contempo '09. In 2010, he held his exhibitions "Bile Bile" at Galeri Merkur and "Desen de..." at Arte İstanbul. On the occasion of Açık Radyo's 15th anniversary, he created individual cover drawings for 150 specially produced copies of Açık Kitap. In 2010, he participated in the 5th Contemporary Istanbul Fair with Galeri Merkür, and in 2011 in the Art Dubai, Hong Kong, Art Basel Scope, and Marrakech fairs with The Empire Project.

In 2011, he initiated the "Mehmet Güleryüz Notebook Project," which began with the Edirne Fine Arts High School and later encompassed other Fine Arts High Schools, and the project reached its 10th year.

He prepared video drawings for the play "Can," directed by Kemal Kocatürk (adapted by Genco Erkal from Can Yücel's poems).

Also in 2011, he took part in the 6th Contemporary Istanbul with his solo exhibition at The Empire Project. In 2012, he participated in Viennafair held in Vienna with The Empire Project. The same year, he took part in the Contemporary Istanbul fair with his new works. His solo exhibition consisting of drawings and oil-on-canvas paintings was on view at the gallery named M1886 in Ankara. Between September 2012 and January 2013, his drawing retrospective was exhibited in the group exhibition titled Hikâyemi Hangi Dilde Anlatsam at the Stedelijk Museum in Schiedam, the Netherlands. In March and April 2013, he held his solo exhibition titled Göz Göre Göre with his latest works at The Empire Project. Also in 2013, he participated in the 8th Contemporary Istanbul Fair with his drawings. In 2014, he took part in the Art London Fair under the auspices of The Empire Project with a selection of drawings created between 1971 and 2014.

In 2014, his book of essays titled Resmigeçit, prepared for publication by Ayşegül Sönmezay, was published by İş Kültür Publications.

In January 2015, a 7-month retrospective exhibition covering his entire career opened at the Istanbul Modern Museum.

In 2016, he took part with his drawings in the exhibition "Cages of Freedom," curated by Anne Woodward, at the Pulchri Studio gallery in The Hague, Netherlands.

In January 2017, he held his drawing exhibition titled "Rağmen" at The Empire Project.

In 2018, he held two exhibitions titled "Yolda" at the Jehangir and Jamaat Galleries in Mumbai.

Mehmet Güleryüz's exhibition "İçeriden," consisting of his recent works made in Paris, was on view at Galeri Cyril Guernieri in Paris.

In 2019, his exhibition "Sızlanmalar Bahçesi" opened at Galeri Cyril Guernieri in Paris.

In 2020, his exhibition titled "Bir Uçtan Bir Uca" opened at Saint Benoit High School La Galerie in Istanbul, and "Gizli Portreler ve Diğerleri" opened at Gallery 11.17.

In 2021, his exhibition titled "Çizgi Hali" opened at Bursa Nilüfer Art, Nazım Hikmet Cultural Center. In December 2021, a book featuring Mehmet Güleryüz's 2017-2021 Paris period works was prepared by QNB Finansbank.

In 2022, his exhibition "Quai aux Fleurs" opened at Galeri Cyril Guernieri in Paris.

In 2023, his exhibition titled "Mehmet Güleryüz 2013-2023" opened at Loft Art Gallery in Istanbul.

Mehmet Güleryüz passed away in 2024.