About

Kerem Ozan Bayraktar is an Istanbul-based artist working with site-specific installations, digital imagery, and field research. He examines actual and imaginary environments shaped by congestion, accumulation, and suspension. In his works, fragments of life, overlooked infrastructures, taxonomies, and diagrams come together in states of instability, absurdity, and fragility.

He participated in several art and research programs, including Fellowship for Situated Practice (basis voor actuele kunst, 2022, the Netherlands) and the Berlin Senate Residency Program (Zentrum fur Kunst und Urbanistik, 2021, Germany). His work has recently been featured in the Tokyo Biennale (2023, Japan), Non-/Human Assemblages (2021, South Korea), Sentient Matter (2021, D21, Germany), and Timeless Curiosities (2024, Istanbul Modern, Turkey). Bayraktar received his MFA and DFA degrees from Marmara University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Painting department. He is currently a faculty member at Sabanci University. His recent publications include Marmara (2023), Spirits on the Ground (2021) and Dunyalarin Haritalari [Maps of Worlds] (2021). Bayraktar is represented by Sanatorium.

Kerem Ozan Bayraktar, mekana özgü yerleştirmeler, dijital imgeler ve saha araştırmasıyla çalışan İstanbul merkezli bir sanatçıdır. Tıkanma, birikme ve askıda kalmış olaylar tarafından biçimlendirilen gerçek ve hayali çevreleri inceler. Yapıtlarında yaşamdan parçalar, göz ardı edilen altyapılar, taksonomiler ve diyagramlar istikrarsızlık, absürtlük ve kırılganlık halleri içinde bir araya gelir.

Fellowship for Situated Practice (basis voor actuele kunst, 2022, Hollanda) ve Berlin Senatosu Sanatçı Rezidansı (Zentrum für Kunst und Urbanistik, 2021, Almanya) dahil olmak üzere çeşitli sanat ve araştırma programlarına katılmıştır. Eserleri yakın zamanda Tokyo Bienali (2023, Japonya), Non-/Human Assemblages (2021, Güney Kore), Sentient Matter (2021, D21, Almanya) ve Zamansız Meraklar (2024, İstanbul Modern, Türkiye) sergilerinde yer almıştır. Bayraktar, Marmara Üniversitesi Güzel Sanatlar Fakültesi Resim Bölümü’nden yüksek lisans ve sanatta yeterlik derecelerini almıştır. Halen Sabancı Üniversitesi’nde öğretim üyesidir. Son yayınları arasında Marmara (2023), Yer Ruhları (2021) ve Dünyaların Haritaları (2021) yer almaktadır. Bayraktar, Sanatorium tarafından temsil edilmektedir.

Reviews & Press

CV

Solo Exhibitions

Projects

Research & Studio Programs

  • 2026
    Atelier Mondial Artist-in-Residence, Basel. 1-month residency, supported by SANATORIUM
  • 2020-23
    Social Dive Artist-in-Residence, with Büşra Tunç, Tokyo Biennale, Tokyo. Residency project: Ghost Gardens
  • 2021-22
    Fellowship for Situated Practice post-academic program, BAK, IKSV CAP; Istanbul, Utrecht. 10-month post-academic fellowship; Spectral Infrastructure research trajectory
  • 2021
    Gate 27 Artist-in-Residence with Aslı Uludağ, Balıkesir. Research on Misregistration Signals project with Aslı Uludağ
  • 2020
    Saha Studio Istanbul. 6-month studio residency; developed Spirits on the Ground installation
  • 2019
    Berlin Senate Residency Program ZK/U, Berlin. 6-month residency; Sokak Otları (Urban Weeds) field research
  • 2018-19
    Istanbul Biennial Production and Research Programme IKSV, Istanbul. 6-month research programme with weekly seminars and mentorship
  • 2014
    Trelex Residency Nyon. Studio residency

Group Projects & Exhibitions

Festivals & Fairs

  • 2024
    In Sync Noise Media Art, Palais Festetics, Vienna. Curated by Zehra Begüm Kışla
  • 2024
    Noise Media Art Kadıköy Kent Museum, Istanbul. Curated by Zehra Begüm Kışla
  • 2023
    Art Dubai Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. Sanatorium
  • 2023
    Untitled Art Miami Miami. Sanatorium
  • 2023
    Contemporary Istanbul Istanbul. Sanatorium
  • 2022
    Art Brussels Tour & Taxis, Brussels. Group booth with Ludovic Bernhardt, Sergen Sehitoğlu, Berkay Tuncay, Sanatorium
  • 2022
    Contemporary Istanbul Istanbul. Sanatorium
  • 2021
    Contemporary Istanbul Istanbul. Sanatorium
  • 2021
    Digital Aura Open Media Art Festival, The Oil Tank Culture Park, Seoul
  • 2020
    Proyector Video Art Festival Debris, Sala El Águila, Madrid
  • 2019
    Art Düsseldorf Areal Böhler, Düsseldorf. Sanatorium
  • 2019
    Art Brussels Tour & Taxis, Brussels. Solo booth, Sanatorium
  • 2019
    Contemporary Istanbul Istanbul. Sanatorium
  • 2018
    Art Düsseldorf Areal Böhler, Düsseldorf. Sanatorium
  • 2018
    Contemporary Istanbul Istanbul. Sanatorium
  • 2014
    Art Market Budapest Budapest. Solo presentation, PG Art Gallery
  • 2012
    Art Market Budapest Budapest. PG Art Gallery
  • 2010
    Contemporary Istanbul Istanbul. PG Art Gallery
  • 2009
    Contemporary Istanbul Istanbul. PG Art Gallery

Workshops

  • 2026
    Instructor, Creative Field Mapping of Urban Plant Ecologies University of Cambridge, Cambridge. Global Humanities Summer School — Global Plant Lives
  • 2026
    Instructor, Reading the Environment from Within Minerva Art Academy, Groningen. Erasmus+ Teaching Mobility workshop on situated observation, field trip to 't Nije Hemelriek nature reserve
  • 2024
    Instructor, Dünyalar Nasıl Yapılır ve Nasıl Yıkılır? Arter, Istanbul. [How Worlds Are Made and How Worlds Are Destroyed]. Six-week seminar series, Arter Learning Programme
  • 2024
    Instructor, Etraf Piksel Yaratıcılık Kampı, Gaziantep. [Around]. Photogrammetry and digital creativity workshop
  • 2024
    Instructor, Urban MicroClimate Recordings Marmara University Faculty of Fine Arts, Istanbul. Field recording workshop. Presented in Cashmere Radio, Berlin
  • 2023
    Instructor, Aletlerin Fizyolojisi Istanbul Modern Museum, Istanbul. [Physiology of Tools]. Digital art workshop on tools, materials and embodied technology
  • 2023
    Coordinator, Experimental Media Garbology (by Luuk Schröder) Marmara University Faculty of Fine Arts, Istanbul. Student workshop on obsolete media devices as art material, led by Luuk Schröder
  • 2023
    Instructor, Boyacılar Marmara University Faculty of Fine Arts, Istanbul. [Painters]. Maintenance art intervention; students repaired and painted department corridors for one week
  • 2023
    Instructor, Work Marmara University Faculty of Fine Arts, Istanbul. 7-week reading seminar on art and labour
  • 2022
    Instructor, Playing Marmara with Aslı Uludağ & Şehir Dedektifleri, Müze Gazhane, Istanbul. Cooperative board game workshop on Sea of Marmara ecology
  • 2022
    Instructor, Sessiz Atölye Marmara University Faculty of Fine Arts, Istanbul. [Silent Studio]. Collective silence practice in online lectures; digital embodiment and screen presence
  • 2022
    Instructor, Excerpts From Sea Matter IKSV Alt Kat, Istanbul. Workshop and installation on maritime histories and colonial traces
  • 2021
    Instructor, Gezegen Tasarımı OMM, Eskişehir. [Planet Design]. Sustainability workshop on planetary systems and ecology
  • 2019
    Participant, Ruderal Manifesto Istanbul Biennial Digestion Program -- Concrete, Istanbul. Performative manifesto reading on urban ruderal ecology
  • 2019
    Participant, Pandora's Black Box Galata Greek Primary School, Istanbul. Organized by Hera Büyüktaşçıyan
  • 2018
    Instructor, Materyalist Medya Ekolojisi ve Sanatsal Üretim Marmara University Faculty of Fine Arts, Istanbul. [Materialist Media Ecology and Artistic Production]. Seminar on material dimensions of artistic media — hardware, energy, infrastructure
  • 2016
    Instructor, Erasure Fkare Photography Festival, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul. Workshop on erasure as a photographic technique
  • 2012-13
    Participant, Kurt Gödel & Gottlob Frege Workshop, System Studies Yağız Özgen & Guido Casaretto Studio, Istanbul. Study group on formal systems and philosophy of mathematics

Awards & Nominations

  • 2016
    Nomination, Prix Pictet Geneva
  • 2016
    Long list, ING Unseen Talent Award Amsterdam
  • 2008
    Success Award, Painting and Sculpture Museums Association Istanbul
  • 2008
    Borders & Orbits 04, Siemens Sanat Istanbul
  • 2008
    26. Contemporary Artists, Akbank Sanat Istanbul
  • 2007
    Borders & Orbits 01, Siemens Sanat Istanbul
  • 2007
    First Prize in Graduation Project, Marmara University Faculty of Fine Arts Istanbul
  • 2007
    Runner-Up Award for Academic Excellence, Marmara University Faculty of Fine Arts Istanbul

Grants

  • 2023
    Ghost Gardens Tokyo Biennale Assoc.; SAHA. with Büşra Tunç. Production grant for site-specific installation at Tokyo Biennale
  • 2023
    Marmara (publication) SAHA Publication Fund. with Aslı Uludağ, Ahu Aksoy Robin. Publication grant for Marmara board game book
  • 2022
    Marmara Marmara Kültürleri Ağı & CultureCIVIC. with Aslı Uludağ. Production grant for cooperative board game on Sea of Marmara ecology
  • 2021-22
    Fellowship for Situated Practice BAK -- basis voor actuele kunst. Post-academic fellowship stipend
  • 2020
    Saha Studio SAHA. Studio residency with stipend and production budget
  • 2020
    Spirits on the Ground (publication) SAHA; Sanatorium. Publication grant for artist book
  • 2019
    Berlin Senate Residency Program Die neue Gesellschaft für bildende Kunst (nGbK) & Depo. 6-month residency scholarship

Education

  • 2011-17
    Doctor of Fine Arts Institute of Fine Arts, Painting, Marmara University. Thesis: "Sistem Teorisi Bağlamında Sanat Nesnesi ve Eşleme" [Art Object and Mapping in the Context of Systems Theory]
  • 2007-11
    Master of Fine Arts Institute of Fine Arts, Painting, Marmara University. Thesis: "Dijital İmge ve Temsili" [Digital Image and Its Representation]
  • 2009-10
    Master of Fine Arts (Exchange Program) Fine Arts, Newcastle University
  • 2003-07
    Bachelor of Fine Arts Faculty of Fine Arts, Painting, Marmara University