Setenay Özbek is an international artist and writer. Themes of Setenay’s artworks are peace, migration, universe, nature and existence. She uses color as a narrative element on abstract expressionist paintings.
Setenay Özbek has held various art events which were individual and group exhibitions in several countries such as Germany, Spain, France, Britain, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Serbia, Switzerland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Egypt, Belgium and Turkey. Her art works are featured in auction houses and art galleries, to be collected internationally within private art collections in Germany, France, Britain, Netherlands, and Turkey. One of her paintings is a part of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Belgrade Serbia since 2009. In 2006, she participated in the 238th Summer Exhibition of Royal Academy of Arts – London, England. Her paintings “Funfair” and “Harvest” were shortlisted among more than 9,000 artworks. In 2021 her paintings were added to the collection of State Museum of Oriental Art – North Caucasian Branch, Russia.
In 2007, she became a member of the Advisory Board of the Faculty of Fine Arts in Marmara University, and at the same time worked as a consultant in the Department of Cinema and Television in the Faculty of Fine Arts.
Between 2015 to 2019, she contributed to the art education of children in her workshop in Geriş Village, Bodrum, Turkey together with guest artists every Sunday. She supported children of ages 5 to 10. Together with other volunteers, she provided arts education and assistance with developmental reading, writing and creativity lessons.
During the same time, she started her community awareness project: “200 Women” (breast cancer awareness). In order to raise awareness regarding the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in Turkey, she created a platform for artists, patients, doctors and the ones who recovered. She uses the healing power and influence of art to increase consciousness and awareness, to spread knowledge among the public about the big threat of Breast Cancer for the women in Turkey and in the world.
While she has been working on her paintings and writing, she has also kept a steady presence in the movies, television and advertising industries as director, screenwriter and producer.
As a member of International PEN Association of Writers, and a member of International Association of Art (A.I.A.A), she continues her work in her workshop in Bodrum, Muğla, Turkey.
Education:
1979 Graduated from Erenköy Girls High School.
1983-1986 She studied with several instructors such as Prof. Sabri Berkel, Hülya Düzenli, Erkan Özdilek PhD, Ergül Özkutan in İstasyon Fine Arts Academy at Istanbul.
1987-1990 She studied with Prof. Ergin İnan at Marmara University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Painting.
1990 Graduated from Marmara University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Performing Arts. Graduated ranking 2nd.
Awards:
2009 Grand Prize Winner of the Bakraç Art Gallery 30th Year Art Contest. Istanbul, Turkey.
2009 5th Tashkent International Biennale of Contemporary Art, “3rd Runner up with Best Contemporary Artwork”. Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Short-Story Books:
2002 Gecenin Mavisi / Blue of the Night Gendaş Kültür Yayınları (Gendaş Cultural Publications)
2005 Hiç Kimse Bir Başkası Olamaz / No One Can Be Someone Else
Cadde Yayınları (Cadde Publications)
Novels:
2021 Kaf Dağı’nın Ateşi – Büyük Sürgün / The Fire of Kaf Mountain – The Great Exile Kafdav Yayınları (Kafdav Publications)
A documentary about her:
2008 “Düşlerle Gelen / Brought by Dreams”, a documentary about Setenay Özbek.
Türkiye Radyo Televizyon Kurumu – 2 (TRT-2) / Turkish Radio Television Corporation – 2 (TRT-2). Directed by İsmet Yazıcı.
Selected Solo Exhibitions:
2019 “Selection” Gallery Binyıl – Hamam Arts Hub HAH, Kuruçeşme, Istanbul, Turkey
2017 “Performance Artist” – International Ataşehir Municipality Festival,
Istanbul, Turkey
2017 “Selection” – Frankie Istanbul, Sofa Hotel, Istanbul, Turkey
2016 “Imaginary Transformation” – Kent Art Gallery, Ankara, Turkey
2014 “Inner Reminiscences” – Anna Laudel Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2012 “Without Borders” – Anna Laudel Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2011 “Summer” – Fulya Terrace İnanlar Bureau, Istanbul, Turkey
2012 “Inner Reminiscences” – Berze Collectibles, Istanbul, Turkey
2011 Gallery Espas, Istanbul, Turkey
2010 TIGGES Rechtsanwälte, Düsseldorf, Germany
2010 Bakraç Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2009 International Art Studio “Radovan Trnavac Mica”, Valjevo, Serbia
2009 “Cosmos” – Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Suna Çokgür Ilıcak Art Gallery, Ankara, Turkey
2008 “Cosmos” – Austria Consulate General Culture Office, Palace Yeniköy, Istanbul, Turkey
2008 “Dedicated to the Moment” – Gallery Binyıl, Istanbul, Turkey
2007 “Sincerity” – Gallery Artist, Istanbul, Turkey
2007 “Inner Reminiscences” – Gallery A, Istanbul, Turkey
2006 6th Ankara Fine Arts Fair, Gallery Binyıl, Ankara, Turkey
2006 Türkiye İş Bankası Art Gallery, Izmir, Turkey
2005 Ankara Fine Arts Fair, Gallery X, Ankara, Turkey
2005 Art Istanbul 2005, Gallery X, Istanbul, Turkey
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2021 Merqez Art Space, Bodrum Marina Yatch Club, Bodrum
2021 Contemporary Istanbul (Fall), Gallery Binyıl Parallel Exhibition, Istanbul, Turkey
2021 Artcontact İstanbul, Tabularasa Transnational Art, Istanbul, Turkey
2021 Contemporary Istanbul (Spring), Gallery Binyıl, Istanbul, Turkey
2020 Contemporary Istanbul, Gallery Binyıl, Istanbul, Turkey
2019 Ramart Platform, Turkish and Islamic Art Museum, Istanbul, Turkey
2019 “Global Views Istanbul”, Nişantaşı, Istanbul, Turkey https://globalviews.consulting/representing/#Setenay
2019 40 Artists, İstinye Park, Istanbul, Turkey
2018 “Blue and Green”, 20 Artists Exhibition, Alta Sanat, Bodrum, Turkey
2018 Merey Collection Exhibition, Tophane-i Amire, Tophane, İstanbul, Turkey
2017 Galleria Luz de la Vida, Malaga, Spain
2016 In Honor of Barış Manço, Beşiktaş Municipality Gallery, Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Turkey
2014 “War, Exile, Life” – KAFDAV, Gallery Uray, Çankaya Municipality,
Ankara, Turkey
2013 “9 artist / 9 works”, Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Permanent Delegation of Turkey to the European Union, Brussels, Belgium
2013 “Free and 90, Republic Exhibition”, Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy of Turkey, Berlin, Germany
2011 Citibank A.Ş. and Gallery Espas, Citigold Select, Levent, Istanbul, Turkey
2011 K.T.O. Konya Karatay University 1st International Art, Culture, Science Days,
Konya, Turkey
2011 Izmir 1st International Art Biennale, Izmir, Turkey
2011 IROK Gallery, Horst, Netherlands
2010 “Power of Dynamism”, Gallery Binyıl, Istanbul, Turkey
2010 “Wall for Peace–AFPIAAP”, Sanski, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina
2010 “FEED_BACK” – Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, U.S.A.
2010 “Comparison of Tomorrow in Turkey”, Beşiktaş Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2010 4th International Sharm El Sheikh Fine Arts Forum, Egypt
2009 5th Tashkent International Biennale of Contemporary Art, Uzbekistan
2009 “Republican Women”, Gallery Sevart, Istanbul, Turkey
2009 “Nature, Water, Love”, Group Exhibition Gallery Binyıl, Istanbul, Turkey
2009 Arnavutköy Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2008 “85/85 Republic Exhibition”, The Marmara Art Gallery, Art&Life, Istanbul
2008 Contemporary Istanbul 08, Gallery Art&Life, Istanbul, Turkey
2008 “October Passage VII”, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey
2008 3rd International Art Festival, Dryanovo, Bulgaria
2008 Caucasian Culture Association, Adana, Turkey
2007 Association Saint Henri, International Art Camp, Group Exhibition and Auction Sale, Saint Henri, France
2007 “October Passage VI”, Gallery X, Istanbul, Turkey
2007 Gallery Binyıl, Istanbul, Turkey
2007 Üçhisar Group Exhibition, French Association of Culture, Istanbul, Turkey
2007 “30 / 30 KARMA (ŞIK)”, The Marmara Art Gallery – Art&Life, Istanbul, Turkey
2007 Gallery A, Istanbul, Turkey
2007 Adana Caucasian Culture Association, “6th Exhibition of Traditional Painting, Sculpture and Ceramics” Adana, Turkey
2007 “Caucasian Art and Cultural Heritage” – Belgian North-Caucasian
Association / MuHKa Museum, Antwerp, Belgium
2007 Bağlarbaşı Caucasian Culture Association, “III Meeting of Caucasian Painters” Istanbul, Turkey
2007 International Art Symposium and Group Exhibition, Istanbul, Turkey
2007 International Art Symposium and Group Exhibition, Üçhisar, Turkey
2006 “X-Trem-Ist 2” – Gallery X, Istanbul, Turkey
2006 Caucasian Culture Association, “Meeting of Caucasian Painters” Adana, Turkey
2006 “The Lost Languages of Kaf Mountain” – Caucasian Cultural Association, Adana, Turkey
2006 Gallery Binyıl, Istanbul, Turkey
2005 Moda Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2005 Mersin University “October Passage IV” – Mersin, Turkey
2005 Association Modern Art Museum (Modern-Ist) Gallery X, Istanbul, Turkey
2005 “X -Trem-Ist” Gallery X Istanbul, Turkey
Artistic Workshops and Meetings
2008 Invited to the Faculty of Fine Arts, El-Minia University for the International Workshop of Visual Arts.
2008 Invited to a workshop organized by the Egyptian El-Minia University, Faculty of Fine Arts and for a presentation: “Modern Art in Turkey”.
2008 Participated as a guest artist in Saint Moritz “Master of Arts” artistic events in Switzerland.
2008 Participated as the guest of honor in the 3rd International Arts Festival in Dryanovo, Bulgaria which is organized by Gallery Panev and Polycommerce-SG.
2007 Invited to Saint Henri Association Studio in Toulouse, France, to produce new art works as the Artist-in-Residence.
Some of the Movies She Participated as Producer, Director, Screenwriter:
2015 “Name: Human” – Movie, Eks Productions, Executive Producer
2012 “Jasem” – Introductory Film, Producer, Vişne Creative Agency, Director
2010 “Olimpos Resort” – Commercial Film, 30”, Agency: Pink House, Köln, Germany
2009 “Masuder Mineral Water” – Commercial Film, Nil Karaibrahimgil, TEAM MCC Advertising Agency, Agency Producer
2006 “Istanbul Metro” – Introductory Film and Image Film for Ulaşım A.Ş., SCD Advertising Agency, Producer
2006 “Kiptaş Residences” – Advertising Campaign, SCD Advertising Agency, Copywriter
2005-2006 Worked as screenwriter for several TV series.
2004 Directed the Introductory Film of Fiber Glass Industry. (Agency Team-MCC) Worked as a director for the corporate films made for ESSE Group, Mustafa Nevzat Medicine Industry, Danone “Career Days”, HC Trading, Koç Net Data Processing Systems.
1995-1998 Worked for Pak İletişim Reklamcılık Sanayi A.Ş. as director, screenwriter, copywriter. Worked for game shows such as Choose It, Playing House, Down and Up, etc. for the same company.
1989-1995 Worked for TVR Reklamcılık Televizyon A.Ş. as director and producer.
1995 In-house training films for Roche, Director – Producer
1988 “Altın” (“Gold”) (17’ Documentary – TRT), Director – Producer
1989 “Professor Ergin İnan” (20’ Documentary), Director – Producer
1990 “Nazar Boncuğu” (“Amulet”) (20’ Documentary), Director – Producer
1989 “Free Zones in Turkey”, Documentary film for Devlet Planlama Teşkilatı (State Planning Organization), Worked for Pak İletişim Reklamcılık Sanayi A.Ş. as Director
1989 “İş Bankası” films, Assistant Director – Producer
1988 Worked in art division of EKS Production, Director – Producer
1988 Worked for the Hollywood movie “The Favorite” for Production Designer Brian Ryman as Art Designer (Ascona Film Production)
1987-1988 Internship in TRT-2 television. Worked for the programs Midweek and Sunday Night.
Other Films and TV Shows She Worked Since 1986:
Selpak (commercial), Tamek (commercial), Marshall Paint (commercial), Midweek (music – entertainment), Sunday Night (music – entertainment), Kent Chocolate (commercial), Solo (commercial), Super Fresh “Ramadan” (commercial), Taste Corner (cooking show – Channel 6), Face to Face (TV show).