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 Projects

  • 2025 Check Valve, Sanatorium, Istanbul
  • 2020-25 Spirits on the Ground, SAHA Studio, Istanbul; Diana, New York. Curated by Ulya Soley
  • 2022-24 Marmara Board Game & Publication, with Aslı Uludağ, Balıkesir, Istanbul
  • 2019 Rocks and Winds, Germs and Words, Sanatorium, Istanbul. Curated by Kevser Güler
  • 2019 Phases of Nix, Bilsart, Istanbul
  • 2018-24 Sokak Otları, Istanbul
  • 2018 Chance and Necessity, with Sergen Şehitoğlu, Sanatorium, Istanbul
  • 2015 et cetera, PGArt, Istanbul
  • 2015 Minor Perceptions, Şekerbank Açıkekran, Istanbul. Curated by Ali Akay
  • 2012 Rules, Nesrin Esirtgen Collection, Istanbul

Research & Studio Programs

  • 2026 Atelier Mondial, Artist-in-Residence, Basel. 1-month residency
  • 2023 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
  • 2020 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

  • 2026 Syndromes of Synthetic Never, Upper Ankyle, Athens. Curated by Evagoria Dapola
  • 2026 Well of Love, Trenčín Castle, Trenčín. Curated by Ekmel Ertan
  • 2024 Critical Shifts, Barin Han, Istanbul. Curated by Maria Korolkova, Margarita Osepyan, Kate Umnova
  • 2024 Timeless Curiosities, Istanbul Modern, Istanbul. Curated by Nilay Dursun, Ümit Mesci
  • 2024 Geometria Situ: Traces and Poetics of Translation, Hothouse, Singapore
  • 2023 Ghost Gardens, Tokyo Biennale, Tokyo. Curated by Masato Nakamura, Min Nishihara
  • 2022 Hauntologists, BAK, Utrecht. Curated by Julia Morandeira Arrizabalaga
  • 2022 A Bit of Unruly Complexity, Sanatorium, Istanbul. Curated by Misal Adnan Yıldız
  • 2022 Across Space -- Sympathetic Vibration, Changwon Sculpture Biennale, Changwon. Curated by Kwonyong Cho
  • 2022 What Water Knows, Pilot, Istanbul
  • 2021 Hosting Bodies, Sanatorium, Istanbul. Curated by Ulya Soley
  • 2021 Sentient Matter, D21, Leipzig. Curated by Tuçe Erel and Tina Ribarits
  • 2021 Non-/Human Assemblages, Busan Sea Art Festival, Ilgwang, Busan. Curated by Ritika Biswas
  • 2020 Cadavre Exquis, Galeri Nev, Istanbul. Curated by Gizem Gedik
  • 2020 At the End of the Day, Odunpazarı Modern Museum, Eskişehir
  • 2020-21 Sandstorm -- And Then There Was Dust, DEPO, Istanbul; Galerie im Körnerpark, Berlin. Curated by Sarah Maske
  • 2020 Regular Insanity, Akbank Sanat, Istanbul. Curated by Marcus Graf
  • 2020 I Haven't Told My Garden Yet, Monitor, Izmir
  • 2019 Ubiquitous Surfaces, Open Space, Seager Gallery, London. Curated by Rita Aktay
  • 2019 flesh and bone, Operation Room, Istanbul. Curated by Kevser Güler
  • 2019 Light Like a Bird, Not Like a Feather, Signs, Istanbul. Curated by Burcu Fikretoğlu
  • 2019 A Horn in The Neck, Apartment Project, Berlin
  • 2019 The Sound of No-one Listening, Corridor, Amsterdam
  • 2018 colony, Abud Efendi Konagi, Istanbul; Schwules Museum, Berlin. Curated by Kevser Güler, Derya Bayraktaroğlu and Aylime Aslı Demir
  • 2018 Monomit, Galeri Nev, Ankara. Curated by Deniz Artun
  • 2018 Vanishing Mediator, Müze Evliyagil, Ankara. Curated by Aylime Aslı Demir
  • 2017 Deep, Darkness and Splendor, Galerist, Istanbul. Curated by Nilüfer Şaşmazer and Karoly Aliotti
  • 2017 aRb, Sanatorium, Istanbul
  • 2016 Ohne, Mekan68, Vienna
  • 2016 Habitat, Istanbul Modern, Istanbul. Curated by Sena Çakırkaya
  • 2015 Backyard, Plato Sanat, Istanbul. Curated by Marcus Graf
  • 2015 VIVO, Kasa, Istanbul. Curated by Derya Yücel
  • 2015 Redefining the Space of Everyday Life, Gaia Galeri, Istanbul. Curated by Irina Batkova and Ezgi Bakcay Colak
  • 2015 Art Speaks Out, Til It's Done, Icono.tv, Istanbul Modern, Istanbul. Curated by Vanina Saracino
  • 2014 Focus: Turkey, Landskrona Foto, Landskrona, Sweden
  • 2014 [ ], PG Art, Istanbul
  • 2013 Hypologie, Sanatorium, Istanbul. Curated by Ludovic Bernhardt and François Ronsiaux
  • 2013 Please do not disturb!, Istanbul Modern, Istanbul. Curated by Ertuğ Uçar
  • 2012 Simulation Crisis, Plato Sanat, Istanbul. Curated by Marcus Graf
  • 2009 Temporary Harassment, Istanbul 2010, Kartal, Küçükçekmece, Atakent, Ümraniye Cultural Centers, Istanbul. Curated by Marcus Graf
  • 2009 You can't kiss away a murder, Galerist, Istanbul. Curated by Derya Demir

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. Solo booth, 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

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