Selim Birsel

Selim Birsel (1963, TR) completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees at École des Beaux-Arts in Grenoble and Institut des Hautes Etudes en Arts Plastiques in Paris. He is a founding member of Turkish contemporary art scene and has been active since the 80’s. His work is diverse in it’s approach as he works in drawing, painting, installation, photography, video, performance and public interventions. He uses other unconventional materials such as dust, spices and found objects. His solo exhibitions include Seasonless, Öktem Aykut (2022); An Isolated Gaze, Öktem Aykut, (2020); At Full Cock, Tütün Deposu, Istanbul (2013); Objects and Drawings, Nowa Oficyna, Gdansk (2000). Group exhibitions include Everything Will Be Just Like Now – Just a Little Different, Künstlerhaus Bregenz, Austria (2023); Future Lies Ahead: 1993-2023, Deajeon Museum of Art, Korea (2023); This Play, Arter, (2022); FREUNDSCHAFTSSPİEL – İstanbul:Freiburg, Museum Für Neue Kunst (2016); Exposition Bas-Cotés, St-Julien-Molin-Molette, France (2013) ABBARA KADABRA, Mardin Bienale (2021); SERIOUSLY IRONIC, CentrePasquArt, Biel. Switzerland (2009); IN AND OUT OF ISTANBUL, Slought Foundation, Philadelphia (2011); INDEX – symbols from everyday life, Palais Porcia, Vienna (2009); SAVE AS…” Contemporary Art from Turkey, Milano Triennale Bovisa, Milano (2009); TIME PRESENT TIME PAST, hightlights from 20 years of the Istanbul Biennial, Istanbul Modern Museum, (2009); FREE KICK, 9th Istanbul Biennial, Hospitality Zone, Antrepo 5, (2009); and Orientation 4th Istanbul Biennial, Antrepo1, Istanbul. He has three published books: The Visit, Backyard, Over and Beside the Works. He has been part of the faculty and teaching at Sabancı University since its initial foundation in 1999. Birsel lives between Istanbul and Chios. His upcoming solo exhibition at Öktem Aykut will take place in fall 2025.