Gold Serie | Gülfidan Özmen

Bio

STATEMENT

Gülfidan Özmen is an interdisciplinary artist living and working in İznik Lake Area, country site of Bursa, Türkiye. She earned her BFA and MFA from Mimar Sinan University, Fine Arts Faculty, Ceramic and Glass Department in İstanbul. As an artist in residence in STARworks, NC; WheatonArts, NJ; Open Studio Residency at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, she also participated many group shows in her homeland and abroad.

Through referencing archaeological sites, primitive architecture, ruins, and aerial views, her art pieces, including paintings, sculptures, and installations, showcase a range of small and large forms, their compositions, and their interplay with the existing space. Although the main material that she feels comfortable using is glass; ceramics, paper, or many other elements that allow her to communicate with the space or the project can be included in her works. As a working method, she embraces pushing the limits of the technical possibilities offered by the materials she uses and their relationship with other materials, to evaluate new materials by using different applications, and by moving away from technical details turning the results into questionable works with their process and plasticity properties.


EDUCATION 

2008 - 2010 
Ceramics and Glass MFA 
Mimar Sinan University, Fine Arts Faculty, Istanbul,TR
 
1995 - 2000  
Ceramics and Glass, BFA 
Mimar Sinan University, Fine Arts Faculty, Istanbul,TR
 
1991 - 1995  
Painting Department
Istanbul Fine Arts High School, Istanbul,TR 


SOLO EXHIBITIONS 

14.01.2012 – 04.02.2012
Visual Memory II
Kiziltoprak Art Gallery, Istanbul,TR

15.11.2011 – 09.12.2011
Visual Memory
Galatea Art Gallery, Istanbul,TR

07.12.2010 – 31.12.2010   
Silhouettes
Ormo Art Gallery, Istanbul,TR

07.04.2009 - 01.05.2009  
Optical Impressions 
Enka Dr.Vickers Art Gallery, Istanbul,TR


SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 
 
09.02.2024 – 22.03.2024 
Doğ
Mahal, Canakkale, TR
 
20.05.2023 – 29.07.2023 
Archive of the A.I.R. 
Past Present Projects Gallery, Bok Building #203, Philadelphia, PA, USA
 
08.02.2022 – 28.03.2022 
ON: MSGSU-VitrA Ceramic Art Studio / 2012-2022 
Tophane-i Amire Culture & Art Center, Bes Kubbe Gallery 
Istanbul, TR
 
27.06.2019 - 11.07.2019 
Onsekiz-Ondokuz / MSGSU-VitrA Ceramic Art Studio
VBenzeri Mekan, Istanbul,TR
 
14.11.2017 – 25.12.2017 
Across the Line / British Council – AltCity
Digi.logue, Zorlu, Istanbul,TR  
 
22.01.2014 – 27.03.2014  
State of Material-2
Armaggan Art and Design Gallery, Istanbul,TR
 
22.01.2014 – 27.03.2014  
+1: Glass
Lincoln Arts Project, Waltham, MA, USA 
 
06.08.2011 – 22.10.2011  
Invisible Cities – Reflections on Travels Between
Istanbul and New York City
Floating World Projects / The Society of Arts and Crafts 
Boston, MA, USA


AWARDS, GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS
 
Wheaton Arts, 
Creative Glass Center of America Fellowship 2018
Millville, NJ, USA
 
Turkish Cultural Foundation 
Cultural Exchange Fellow 2013, 2018
 
The Republic of Turkiye, Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Travel Grant 2010, 2013, 2018
 
Rotary Art Prize 2012
Catalog Selection
 
Glass Furnace, Full Scholarship 2002
Therman Statom, Sallie Portnoy 


RESIDENCIES 
 
15.02.2024 - 25.02.2024   
CASEM Guest Artist Program
Çanakkale Ceramics Research Development and Application Center
TR
 
15.09.2022 - 15.12.2022   
STARworks Glass Residency
Star, NC,USA
  
10.12.2018 – 27.12.2018   
MSGSU-VitrA Ceramic Art Studio Residency
Mimar Sinan University, Istanbul,TR
 
18.04.2018–18.07.2018  
Wheaton Arts, Creative Glass Center of America
Millville, NJ,USA
 
23.10.2017–05.11.2017   
AltCity Istanbul Residency Program
Zorlu Performing Art Center, Istanbul,TR
 
29.05.2016-10.06.2016
Open Studio Residency
Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME,USA
 
Floating World Projects 2010-2011
Artists Group Project held in Istanbul and NYC
 
15.09.2001 - 15.10.2001   
Schott Desag Factory Residency
Grunenplan, Germany
 

FAIRS
 
07.10.2013 - 10.10.2013   
Contemporary Istanbul International Art Fair
with Armaggan Art and Design Gallery
 
22.10.2012 - 25.10.2012  
Contemporary Istanbul International Art Fair
with Gallery Ilayda
 
27.04.2012 - 01.05.2012   
Artexpo Arezzo, Italia 
with Neo Art Gallery
 
30.10.2010 - 07.11.2010
Artist 2010, Istanbul Art Fair
with Enka Dr. Vickers Art Gallery
 
03.12.2009 - 06.12.2009  
Contemporary Istanbul International Art Fair
with Arda Art Gallery


SYMPOSIUMS AND TALKS 

13.05.2024
Artist Talk _ Creative Process and Practices
Anadolu University, Fine Arts Faculty, Glass Department
Eskisehir

17.05.2023
ODTU Music and Fine Arts Department, Glass Art Lesson 
Artist Talk with Assoc. Prof. Ödül Işıtman
Online talk at Zoom

31.03.2023
Artist Talk 
Past Present Projects Gallery, Bok Building #203, Philadelphia, PA

17.11.2022
Artist Talk 
STARworks Glass, Star, NC

26.01.2021
MSGSU-VitrA Ceramic Art Studio
Artist Talk with Prof. Yeşim Zümrüt
Online talk at Zoom

11.12.2020
Artist Talk with Şanel Şan 
online Instagram live @tasarimparki

13.05.2019
Artist Talk 
Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Fine Arts Faculty, 
Ceramic and Glass, Canakkale

17.12.2018
Artist Talk 
Mimar Sinan University, Ceramic and Glass, Istanbul

13.06.2013 – 16.06.2013  
GlassBoston Glass Conference, USA
participated artist

02.10.2010 – 12.10.2010  
L’viv International Blown Glass Symposium, Ukraine
participated artist


COLLECTIONS

Museum of American Glass
CGCA, Millville, NJ, USA

L’viv National Museum
L’viv, Ukraine

Artam Collection
Private Collection, TR

Eskişehir Contemporary Glass Art Museum
Eskişehir, TR


PUBLISHED WRITING

Glass: The UrbanGlass Art Quarterly
Summer 2023, Issue 171  Page 64-57    
Reflection Article “Artist-in-residence programs, already so important to developing artists, become even more critical when artists become victims of disasters.”

Master Thesis: Op Art and Contemporary Glass Art
MSGSU, Social Science Institute, 2009
Advisor: Assist. Prof. İrfan Aydın

Turkish Ceramic Society VI. International Ceramic Congress, Sakarya with Dr. Hasdemir, İlhan
PATE DE VERRE AND VITROMASS IN GLASS FORMING Page:23 2006: 455, 456, 457, 458, 459, 460. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY
 
Past Present No.3, bi-annual arts and culture journal
 
“Archive of the A.I.R. Exhibition” August 2023
 
Gucluturk, Fem. Maison Française, January 2016: 49, 
Page: 112
 
Turan Eke, Öznur. “A Studio and Two Sisters”, 
Art-ı Mekan, May-June 2014: 45, 
Page: 118, 119, 120
 
Hız, Dilhan. “Silhouettes Behind Glass with Gülfidan Özmen”, Focus, January-February 2011: 23, 
Page: 80, 81, 82
 
Yanık, Figen. “Urban Reflections in Glass”, Sabah Daily Newspaper, December 26, 2010
 
Faces / Hundreds of Istanbul
100 Glass Artists in Istanbul
Gültekin Çizgen. Page: 34
 
Best of Worldwide Glass Artists Vol.1.
Kennedy Publishing, 2010, Page:112.
 
Creativ Dergi, October, 2009
Page: 8-9
Tasarım, Review of Architecture, Interior Design and 
Visual Arts, 2009: 191.
Page: 46
 
Kohler, Lucartha. Women Working in Glass. 
Schiffer Publishing. 2003
Page: 186
 

SELECTED TEACHING EXPERIENCES
 
14.05.2024
Site-Specific Performances
Anadolu University, Fine Arts Faculty, Glass Department
Eskisehir

09.07.2022 - 27.07.2022
Teaching Assistant at Pilchuck Glass School, USA
Session-4
 
07.09 / 28.09.2013
One of Three: Serigraphy Workshop (+15-20)
as part of the Suna and Inan Kıraç Foundation Collection Exhibition
Pera Museum, Istanbul
 
29.05.2013
Olé! Pop Art: Serigraphy Workshop (+15-20)
as part of Manolo Valdés Exhibition
Pera Museum, Istanbul
 
08.03 / 12.04.2014
Glass within Glass: Mixed Media Workshop (+15)
as part of Aurora: Contemporary Nordic Glass Art Exhibition
Pera Museum, Istanbul
 
2008-2014
Lecturer at Mimar Sinan University, Ceramic and Glass
Contemporary Glass Art and Design 1
Contemporary Glass Art and Design 2
Glass Studio 3

 
CONSULTANCY & WORK
 
31.03.2015 – 04.05.2015  
Valens Mosaic and Tiles, Istanbul
Product and Design Advisor
 
05.06.2008 – 29.02.2012  
Gülfidan Özmen Art & Design Consulting Service
for VitrA Tiles, Ferer Pigments

01.03.2004 – 31.03.2008  
VitrA Tiles, Istanbul
Chief of Production, Production and Design Specialist 
 
15.05.2003 – 30.09.2003  
Art Objects, USA
Assistant of Therman Statom 
 
15.01.2003 – 01.05.2003  
Cenan Uyanusta Studio, Istanbul
Assistant of Cenan Uyanusta
 
01.09.2002 – 20.12.2002  
Cam Mühendislik
Glass Objects Design
 
08.08.2000 – 31.08.2002  
Fuzyon Teknik
Architectural Glass Design & Production

Residencies-Workshops

MSGSU_VitrA Ceramic Arts Studio Residency 2018

Color body porcelain, 1200ºC1 Color body porcelain, 1200ºC2 Color body porcelain, 1200ºC, 17 x 9,5 x 4 cm. 20183

Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı established the VitrA Ceramic Arts Studio in 1957, with the goal of encouraging ceramic artists and public appreciation of this medium. Over the years, the VitrA Ceramic Arts Studio has opened its doors to a large number of young and talented ceramic artists, organized public exhibitions of their work, and hosted master classes, conferences, slide shows and workshops on ceramic art.

In January 2012, VitrA signed a protocol with the Division of Ceramic and Glass Design at Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts (MSGSÜ) that aims to contribute to the artistic development of university students and enrich their perspectives by providing them opportunities to work side by side with internationally acclaimed ceramic artists. As part of the agreement, MSGSÜ and VitrA invite four guest artists every year – two from Turkey and two from abroad – to work at the studio. During this period, VitrA and the university jointly organize ceramic art workshops at the university, and at the end of the year, MSGSÜ exhibits the artists’ work in the university’s historic building in Tophane, Istanbul. The VitrA Ceramic Arts Studio is a member of the Geneva-based International Academy of Ceramics (IAC).

WheatonArts_CGCA Fellowship 2018

Construct in Clear, 15 x 12 x 7 cm. Enamel from self drawings and kiln formed glass, 20181 Stairs to Gold, 26 x 53 x 5,5 cm. Ink sketch on paper together with kiln formed glass and found glass objects, wall installation, 20182 Construct in Gold, 12 x 8 x 6 cm. Kiln formed gold tinted glass, 20183 4 Kiln formed clear glass, 7x6x11 cm. 20185 Kiln formed clear glass composition 10,5x10x20,5 cm., 14x5x9,5 cm. 20186 Balance in Gold, Kiln formed Glass and Gold, 20187 Gold Element, Kiln formed Glass, Blown Forms, 2018 8 3D Sketch for Sand, 20189 10 11 12

About CGCA Fellowship;

The CGCA at WheatonArts offers fellowships to artists working in glass and has serviced glass artists and the arts community for over thirty years. Over 300 professional and emerging artists have been recipients of a CGCA fellowship, from the U.S. and over 26 foreign countries. Artists are encouraged to use their fellowships to develop and refine their work, while experimenting with both traditional and innovative glassmaking processes.

The CGCA Fellowship Program provides 24-hour studio facilities, technical resources, housing and a stipend; allowing artists the opportunity to spend a concentrated period of time devoted exclusively to their work. Many emerging artists have used the Fellowships as a stepping-stone to a successful career. For mid-career artists, it offers an opportunity to redefine direction and renew creative energy. The collaboration and exchange of ideas among the Fellows enhances a productive climate, supporting the discovery of new vision and resources for each.

In 2018, the CGCA will offer 3-month fellowships from April 18 – July 18.
Only artists who have never been through the program may apply for three- month sessions. During their Fellowships, artists have the use of private studios and excellent facilities within a respectful sanctuary of concentrated time.

key words of my creative process; balance, archeological sites, primitive habitat, archi-sculpture, architecture, structure, archi-structure, useless structures, elements in space, geometric formation, nowhere, organic methodology, constructed memories, mental space, poetic set of light, texture

Across the Line – ALTCITY ISTANBUL 2017

1 2 3 4 5

Night Walk – Light and Reflection … collaboration with Zeynep Budak…projection mapping on 3 x 11 x 24.5 cm kiln formed opaque-clear glass, exhibited on mirror covered iron pedestal (19 x 24 x 110 cm), 2017

As in many other metropolises, Istanbul, the city we live in, snatches us away from nature. Although we may be unaware towards it, we still have one natural thing that is very precious – the light. Without light, it’s impossible for us to maintain our existence and cyclical rituals. In a metropolis, the light is not limited to the sun as it is in nature. We continuously illuminate our buildings, streets and every moment of our lives.

In their work “Night Walk”, the artists examine the relationship between the city and the light through images of buildings, reflections and light symbols – the elements most frequently fond in metropolises. A shared perspective of an architect and a glass artist.

AltCity Istanbul is a digital arts residency, bringing artists from Turkey into creative collaboration to explore uses of creative technology to learn new methodologies and produce artwork that engage and speak to the fabric and communities of the city.

It is aimed to be a catalyst for improving the awareness of digital art for artists in Turkey, and their ability to make and collaborate on digital art projects for now and the future.

AltCity Istanbul is a partnership project by the British Council and Digi.logue , an interactive platform supported by Zorlu Holding and Zorlu Performing Arts Center to accelerate digital transformation and is produced by Quays Culture , Salford Quays based digital arts producers.

Artistic lead of the residency are Squidsoup , a UK based digital arts group, who specalise in digital media and light art.

Haystack_Open Studio Residency 2016

Elements in Space, 16x48x13 cm, carved driftwood and brass, 20161 Elements in Space, 16x48x13 cm, carved driftwood and brass, 20162 detail of Elements in Space, 16x48x13 cm, carved driftwood and brass, 20163 On the Edge, 18x18x8 cm, carved driftwood and copper, 20164 On the Edge, 18x18x8 cm, carved driftwood and copper, 20165 Untitled, 16x20x9.5 cm, carved driftwood and copper, 20166 Lovers' Leap (Stairs to Nowhere), 17x72x18 cm, Carved and partly painted drift wood and copper, 20167 Detail from Lovers' Leap (Stairs to Nowhere), 17x72x18 cm, Carved and partly painted drift wood and copper, 20168 Detail from Lovers' Leap (Stairs to Nowhere), 17x72x18 cm, Carved and partly painted drift wood and copper, 20169

Haystack’s Open Studio Residency provides two weeks of studio time and an opportunity to work in a supportive community of makers. The program accommodates approximately 50 participants—from the craft field and other creative disciplines—who will have uninterrupted time to work in six studios studios (ceramics, fiber, graphics, iron, jewelry, and wood) to develop ideas and experiment in various media.

My inspiration themes for the residency are architecture, costructional studies, mixed media, geometry, constructed memories, mental space, organic methodology, geometric formation of elements in space.

Floating World Projects_Invisible Cities 2010 / 2011

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Floating World Projects’ current project examines cross-cultural collaboration between Turkish and American artists working in a broad range of mediums. Over the past four years, we have forged relationships with visual artists and musicians in Istanbul with the goal of producing a project based on international artistic partnership. The aim of the project is to explore the many aspects of cross-cultural identity through visual and audio collaboration. The Project consists of four components: collaborative visual artwork, a video component, a series of audio recordings and a multi-media exhibition.
In the summer of 2011, glass artists Ayse Balyemez, Hande Buyukatli and Gulfidan Ozmen traveled to Boston to participate in a residency at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. With Leo, James and Oben Abright they visited New York City for inspiration, later developing silkscreened glass pieces that combine imagery from the city as well as references to Istanbul.
For more information on FWP and upcoming projects, please visit: FWP

L’viv 8th International Blown Glass Symposium 2010

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Gülfidan Özmen

Visual Arts / Glass & Mixed Media

Material Studies are unique objects and contemporary still-life compositions that I use bio, natural and found elements.

All still-life compositions are formed by the combination of different elements with an infinite variety. This is a structure in which each material preserves its own story and opens the way for new stories.

Structural Studies is a series that has been ongoing since 2018. It covers glass sculptures and installations of various sizes.

Send me a message!