Mehmet Guleryuz
Bio
Mehmet Güleryüz 1938 Born in Istanbul.
1958 Enters The Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts Department of Painting, from which he graduates in first place in 1966. He learned acting at the same time as he attended the academy, taking part in various ‘actor’s studios’ and important amateur theaters.
1963 Begins his professional acting career at the Arena Theater, directed by Asaf ÇiğiltepeOpens his first personal exhibition, featuring drawings, in 1963.
1970-1975 Recieves advanced training in painting and lithography during a state scholarship to Paris.
1971 Paris Creates his first sculptures and performance at the Pont des Arts.
1975-1980 Teaches at the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts Painting Department.
1980 Resigns from this position and settles in New York, 1980-1984.
1984 Exhibits sculptures and etchings produced in Brussels at Galeri 2016. 1985: Returns to Istanbul. 1985-2000: Provides art training at a studio with his own name at BILSAK.
1986 Begins to publish the art magazine “Kalın” (Thick).
1988 Opens his 25th anniversary retrospective, organized Galeri Nev and accompanied by a book written by Nan Freeman 1989-1992 Served as founding president of the International Fine Arts Organization.
1990-1995 Publishes an interview column entitled “Conversations with Güleryüz” in the magazine, Votre Beauté.
1991 realizes the monumental 14-painting cycle Cross-Wind for permanent installation in the atrium of the Ankara Sheraton Hotel.
1992 Serves as a visiting instructor at Bilkent University.
1992 Realizes a series of 7 paintings for the lobby of the Polat Renassance Hotel in Istanbul.
1995 Visits Bosnia under the auspices of the ‘Humanity for Bosnia’ iniative.
1998-2001 Acts the character Pepino in the three-character play, “An Old Clown is Wanted for a Small Job” at the Istanbul State Theater. Participates in the State Theater tours of Duisburg and Dusseldorf with this play.
2000 Reelected as the president of the Turkish Fine Arts Association president. Reelected in 2001 as the president of the Turkish branch of the International Fine Arts Association, in 2002 of the East European Branch, and in 2002 as the vice president of the united IAA European presidency and as a member of the IAA World Adminstration Board.
2003 Realizes his 40 year drawing retrospective at the Yapı Kredi Kazım Taşkent Gallery.
2003-2005 Teaches at the Yıldız Technical University Combined Arts Program. In addition to lessons provided at his independent private art studio, since 1999 he also teaches in the Bilgi University Design Culture and Administration Certificate Program.
2005 Organizes the European General Meeting of the IAA, also participationg in the 16th IAA World General Meeting in Beijing and the 2nd Beijing Beinnial as the IAA’s representative from Turkey.
2007 Realizes the retrospective and sculpture exhibition, “From Here to There” at the Yapı Kredi Kazım Taşkent Gallery.
2008 Realizes the exhibition, “Fifty Years of Art,” at the Ankara Galeri Nev, accompanied by a second book by nan Freeman.
Biennials
1965 5. Young Artists Biennial, Paris
1966 5. Tehran Biennial, Tehran
1987 Alexandria International Biennial, Egypt
1987 1st International Istanbul Biennial, Mimar Sinan Bath
1989 2nd Istanbul Biennial
2004 1st International Drawing Bienal, Pilsen The Czech Republic
2005 2. Beijing International Bienelle “The IAA Exhibit”
Private and Museum Collections
İstanbul State Museum of Painting and Sculpture
Ankara State Museum of Painting and Sculpture
İstanbul Modern Art Museum
Sakıp Sabancı Collection
Merkez Bankası Contemporary Turkish PaintingCollection
Fransa Kültür Bakanlığı Collection
T.C. Kültür Bakanlığı Collection
Eczacıbaşı Collection
New York Üniversitesi Collection
Karl Hermann Klock Collection, Duisbourg