Gulfidan Ozmen started her art practice in a family of fine arts graduate parents.
Completed her art education at Istanbul Fine Arts High School-Painting Department and Mimar Sinan University, Fine Arts Faculty, Ceramic and Glass Department, with an MFA degree.
Her glass practice started in university with her apprenticeship in Sisecam, Beykoz Glass Factory. Since 1999 she’s working with glass. She had been a part of multiple installation projects with national and international artists in Turkey and abroad and worked as an assistant with several glass artists.
She had also experienced architectural glass art practices and the glass tile industry. She worked in product development and production processes In Eczacibasi Group, VitrA Tiles.
She gave lectures at her graduate university (MSGSU) and instructed workshops in Pera Museum and her own studio.
Contrasts of the material and color were the strongest highlights of her early period artworks. Questioning the materials’ reflex as an optic impression with inspirations of architecture and nature.
Following years, she continued her artworks by reflecting on her drawing and printing practices on glass and 3D forms. She combined glass and paperwork studies in her artworks and create a layered effect in 2D studies by using the transparency and opacity of glass.
Her recent artworks are very much related to a relationship between space, object, and scale. Techniques and materials may vary depending on her expressions. She always aims to realize her perception of naked structures inspired by architecture, archeology, and nature.
In her practice, the process also becomes an important focal point as much as the work itself. Her techniques of forming glass are correlated with archeological processes and embrace different production techniques in one piece of artwork.
Born in Istanbul in 1978
EDUCATION
2010 MFA, MSGSU, Ceramic and Glass Design Department, Istanbul, Turkey
Thesis Title: “Op Art and Contemporary Glass Art”
Thesis Advisor: Asistant Prof. Irfan Aydın
2000 BFA, MSGSU, Ceramic and Glass Design Department, Istanbul, Turkey
1995 Istanbul Fine Arts High School, Painting Department, Turkey
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2012 “Visual Memory II” Kiziltoprak Art Gallery, Istanbul
2011 “Visual Memory” Galatea Art Gallery, Istanbul
2010 “Silhouettes” Ormo Art Gallery, Istanbul
2009 “Optical Impressions” Enka Dr. Vickers Art Gallery, Istanbul
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2020 “Artvital” Multidisciplinary Online Exhibition.
2019 “Onsekiz Ondokuz” VBenzeri Mekan, Istanbul
2019 “Following Troia” Istanbul Archeology Museum, Darphane-i Amire, Istanbul
2017 “Across the Line”, British Council, AltCity Istanbul, Zorlu Digi.logue Space, Istanbul
2016 “Art in Museum” Armaggan Art and Design Gallery, Museum Hotel, Cappadocia
2015 “20th Years Exhibition” Kiziltoprak Art Gallery, Istanbul
2014 “States of Material 2” Armaggan Art and Design Gallery, Istanbul
2013 “Spectra: Glass Works”, Clark Gallery, Lincoln, MA, USA
2013 “+1 Glass” Lincoln Arts Project, Waltham, MA, USA
2013 “Themeless/Contactless 3” Gallery ilayda, Istanbul
2012 “Art 7/24” Armaggan Art and Design Gallery, Istanbul
2012 “Themeless/Contactless 2” Gallery ilayda karakoy, Istanbul
2012 “womenly-cases of women” Halikarnassos Cultural Center, Bodrum-Muğla
2012 “Themeless/Contactless” Gallery ilayda, Istanbul
2012 “armaggan, young output-one” Armaggan Art and Design Gallery, Istanbul
2011 “Invisible Cities” Floating World Projects, The Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston, USA
2011 “Interception”, Bir Nokta Art Gallery, Istanbul
2011 “Enerji’k Bakıs” , Istanbul Modern Arts Gallery, Istanbul
2010 L’viv 8th International Blown Glass Symposium Final Exhibition. L’viv National Museum, Ukraine
2010 “Liselim” Tophane-i Amire, Istanbul
2010 Museum of Glass, Red Hot Juried Auction, Tacoma Washington, USA
2010 The Anatolian Enlightenment of Art, Besiktas Contemporary Art Gallery, Istanbul.
2009 Ormo Art Gallery, “Başlangıç” Istanbul
2008 Eskişehir Contemporary Glass Art Museum Collection, Antalya
2008 Eskişehir Contemporary Glass Art Museum Collection, Izmir
2007 Eskişehir Contemporary Glass Art Museum, Eskisehir
2007 Contemporary Turkish Glass Artists, Anadolu University – Eskisehir
2005 Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Ceramic and Glass Department, 75. Students Exhibition, Istanbul
FAIRS
2013 Contemporary’13, International Art Fair, Armaggan Art & Design Gallery, Istanbul
2012 Contemporary’12, International Art Fair, Ilayda Sanat Galerisi, Istanbul
2012 Art Expo Arezzo, International Art Fair. Neo Art Gallery, Italy
2010 “Artist”, International Art Fair, with Enka Dr. Vickers Art Gallery, Istanbul
2009 Contemporary’09, International Art Fair, with Arda Art Gallery, Istanbul
ARTIST TALKS
2022 “STARworks Glass”, Star, NC, USA
2021 “MSGSU-VitrA Ceramic Art Studio” with Yesim Zumrut. (Online)
2020 “Tasarım Parkı” talking about art practices, with Sanel San (Online)
2019 Artist Talk at Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Fine Arts Faculty, Canakkale
2019 Artist Talk at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Ceramic and Glass Department.Istanbul
AWARDS/ GRANTS/ SCHOLARSHIPS/FELLOWSHIPS
2018 WheatonArts, Creative Glass Center of America Fellow
Turkish Cultural Foundation, 2018 Cultural Exchange Fellow
2016 Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Travel Grant
2013 Turkish Cultural Foundation, 2013 Cultural Exchange Fellow
The Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Travel Grant
2012 Rotary Art Prize, catalog selection
2010 Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Travel Grant
RESIDENCIES & WORKSHOPS
2022 “STARworks Glass”, Star, NC, USA
2018 “MSGSU – VitrA Ceramic Arts Studio Programme”, Istanbul, TR
2018 WheatonArts, Creative Glass Center of America Fellowship, Millville, NJ, USA
2018 “The Creative Enterprise Programme” British Council, Atölye, Istanbul, TR
2017 “AltCity Istanbul” British Council Digital Arts Residency, Istanbul, TR
2016 “Open Studio Residency” Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME, USA
2013 “GlassBoston” Glass Conference. Boston, MA, USA
2011 Floating World Projects, Workshop program; Boston, MA, USA
2010 L’viv 8th International Blown Glass Symposium. L’viv, Ukraine
2010 Floating World Projects, Istanbul, TR. Workshop program
2002 Glass Furnace, Istanbul. ‘Kiln Casting’, ‘Sand Casting’ workshop with Sallie Portnoy artist assistant
2002 Glass Furnace, Istanbul. “Mixed Media” workshop with Therman Statom
COMMISSIONED WORKS
2018 Residence in Dikili. Architectural glass project.
2016 Meyer Objects, paperwork for edition
2012 MP Construction, Renaissance Istanbul Bosphorus Hotel, Istanbul
Giclee Digital Prints and Glassworks
COLLECTIONS
STARworks Glass, Star, NC, USA
MSGSU – VitrA Ceramic Art Studio, Turkey.
Museum of American Glass, Millville, NJ, USA.
Cengiz Akıncı Collection, Turkey.
Yalcin Ayasli Collection, Turkey.
Yılmaz Yalcinkaya Collection, Turkey.
L’viv National Museum Collection, Ukraine.
Artam Collection, Turkey.
Eskisehir Contemporary Glass Art Museum Collection, Turkey.
PUBLICATIONS
Gucluturk, Fem. Maison Française, January 2016:49, Page: 112 (Review)
“A Studio and Two Sisters”, Art’ı Mekan, 2014:45, Page:118, 119, 120
Hız, Dilhan. “Silhouettes behind glass with Gülfidan Özmen” Focus Jan – Feb 2011: 23, Page: 80, 81, 82.
Yanık, Figen. “Urban Reflections in Glass”, Sabah daily newspaper, 26th December 2010
Faces/Hundreds of Istanbul – 100 Glass Artist in Istanbul. Gültekin Çizgen. Page 34.
Best of Worldwide Glass Artists Vol.1. Kennedy Publishing. Page 112.
Creativ, 2009:22, Page: 8-9. (Review)
Tasarım, Review of Architecture Interior Design and Visual Arts, 2009:191, Page: 46.
Kohler, Lucartha Women Working In Glass Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 2003:186.
Turkish Ceramic Society VI. International Ceramic Congress, Sakarya
PATE DE VERRE AND VITROMASS IN GLASS FORMING Page:23 2006: 455, 456, 457, 458, 459, 460.
TEACHING
2022 TA, Pilchuck Glass School, Session 4, Stanwood, Seattle, USA
2015 In Studio, “Silk Screen Printing on Paper” workshops, Istanbul, TR
2015 Pera Museum, “Silk Screen Printing on Wood” workshops, Istanbul, TR
2014 Pera Museum, “Silk Screen Printing on Wood” workshops, Istanbul, TR
2014 Pera Museum, “Warhol Totes” screen printing workshops, Istanbul, TR
2014 Pera Museum, “Glass Within Glass” mixed media glass workshops, Istanbul, TR
2013 Pera Museum, “One in Three” screen printing workshops, Istanbul, TR
2013 Pera Museum, “Ole! Pop Art” screen printing workshops, Istanbul, TR
2008-2014 Lecturer in Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Ceramic and Glass Department, Istanbul, TR
2008 Workshop, “glass and kiln formed techniques”, Akdeniz University, Ceramic Department, Antalya, TR
2006 Seminar, “kiln formed techniques and Vitromass”, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Ceramic and Glass Department, Istanbul, TR
OTHER ACTIVITIES
2015 Product and design advisor in Valens Mosaics, Istanbul, TR
2011 – 2015 Art advisor in Ferer – pigments and colors company, Istanbul, TR
2008 – 2014 Lecturer in MSGSU, Ceramic and Glass Design Department about ‘Contemporary Glass Art’, Istanbul, TR
2004 – 2012 Vitra Tiles, Glass Tile Department; full-time positions as Product Development Specialist, Chief of Production and Product Development Advisor, Istanbul, TR
2003 Therman Statom Studio, Escondido – San Diego, USA. Artist Assistant
Glass Museum Gernheim, Germany – Stories from the Wesser instalation.
Mesa Contemporary Arts Center, USA – Reflexiones en el Agua installation.
Pilchuck Glass School, USA – artist assistant in kids workshop.
Penland School of Crafts, USA – artist assistant.
2003 Cenan Uyanusta Studio, Istanbul. Artist Assistant
2002 Cam Mühendislik Ltd. Istanbul. Designer. Glass Furnace, Istanbul. (Fusing Studio, hot shop)
2001 Schott Desag AG, Grunenplan, Germany. Residency in factory studio. (1 month)
2000 – 2002 Füzyon Teknik Ltd., Istanbul. Fusing glass design and application.
1999 Gioela Suardi ceramic art studio; Bergamo, Italy (3 months)
1998 Şişecam Paşabahçe Hot shop, Istanbul. Aprenticeship with glass master Yusuf Görmüş (3 months)