(b. 1985) lives and produces in Istanbul.
Ahu Akgün completed her Master's degree in the Department of Visual Arts and
Communication Design at Sabancı University in 2018. In 2022, she started the Proficiency in
Art program in the Painting Department at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, where she also
completed her undergraduate education. Since 2009, her works have been featured in
numerous group exhibitions. In 2019, she was awarded the 37th Akbank Contemporary Artists
Award. She held her first solo exhibition in Istanbul in 2020. In 2022, her works were exhibited
at Nada New York. She has conducted workshops for students of various ages at institutions
such as the Nesin Foundation, Bursa Municipality, and Saint Joseph High School. In 2024, Ahu
Akgün was one of the most represented artists in the “Farz Et ki Sen Yoksun” exhibition,
curated by Selen Ansen, which featured works from the Ömer Koç Collection with nearly 400
artists, and was showcased at Arter. In the same year, she was invited to the “Painting the
Present” exhibition at Yapı Kredi Gallery. Akgün’s works were also exhibited in the “Beginning
of Memory” (Istanbul, Ark Culture) and “A Memory Surfaces” (Ankara, Kırlangıç Sokak)
exhibitions, held to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Galeri Nev. Before her solo exhibition
at Galeri Nev in March 2025, Ahu Akgün will participate in the “Chrysalis of Rebirth” exhibition
at 67 York Street Gallery in London, led by Carpel. The artist continues her work in her studio
in Istanbul.
Academic Background
2022 – Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Ph.D., Department of Painting, Istanbul, Turkey 2015-2018 – Sabancı University, Master’s Degree, Visual Arts and Communications Design, Istanbul, Turkey 2009-2010 – Burg Giebichenstein Hochschule für Kunst und Design, Master’s Degree, Department of Painting and Textile, Halle, Germany 2006-2007 – Münster Kunstakademie, Erasmus Exchange Program, Münster, Germany 2004-2009 – Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Undergraduate Degree, Department of Painting, Istanbul, Turkey
Artist Residencies and Collaborations 2023 – Dou Print Lithography Studio, Ankara, Turkey 2022 – June Gate 27, Ayvalık, Turkey
Awards 2019 – 37th Akbank Contemporary Artists Prize 2015 – Nuri İyem Painting Awards, Display 2009 – Sakıp Sabancı Art Awards, Painting, 3rd Prize
Solo Exhibitions 2022 – “Voids,” Mixer, Istanbul 2020 – “A Reason to Visit,” Mixer Project Space, Istanbul
Selected Group Exhibitions 2024 – “Beginning of Memory,” for the 40th Birthday of Galeri Nev, Ark Kültür, Istanbul 2024 – “Painting Today,” curated by Burcu Çimen and Didem Yazıcı, Yapı Kredi Kültür Sanat, Istanbul 2024 – “Lithography,” Dou Print Selection, Kasa Galeri, Istanbul 2024 – “Suppose You Are Not,” curated by Selen Ansen, ARTER, Istanbul 2023 – “Everything Will Be Like Now – Just A Little Different,” curated by Derya Yücel, Kunstlerhaus Palais Thurn und Taxis, Bregenz 2023 – “…But My Heart is With You,” curated by Yasemin Bay, Pursefa Inn, Gaziantep 2022 – “Rounded by Sleep,” curated by Eda Berkmen, ARTER, Istanbul 2021 – “Wizard and the Garden,” curated by Can Akgümüş, Erimtan Archaeology and Arts Museum, Ankara 2021 – “Past.Present.İstanbul,” curated by Murat Germen, Sakıp Sabancı Museum, Istanbul 2021 – “Atış Serbest - Mecmu,” Barın Inn, Istanbul 2021 – “Olympos Exhibitions II – Landscape,” curated by Taner Ceylan, Zulfaris Synagogue, Istanbul 2020 – “Us Actually,” curated by Director Can Kilcioglu, Mixer, Istanbul 2019 – Akbank Contemporary Artist Prize Exhibition, Akbank Art Center, Istanbul 2019 – “Atış Serbest - 5,” MSGSU Tophane-i Amire Culture and Art Center, Cistern Galleries, Istanbul 2018 – “Over and Over,” Mixer, Istanbul 2018 – “Atış Serbest - 4,” MSGSU Tophane-i Amire Culture and Art Center, Cistern Galleries, Istanbul 2016 – Mamut Art Project, Istanbul 2015 – “Nuri İyem Painting Awards 2015” Exhibition, Evin Art Gallery, Istanbul 2013 – “Memories of the Forgotten,” curated by Artshift, Adahan, Istanbul 2009 – “Sakıp Sabancı Art Awards” Exhibition, Sakıp Sabancı Museum, Istanbul
Selected Art Fairs 2022 – Contemporary İstanbul 2022 – Artweeks Akaretler 2022 – NADA New York, Solo Exhibition
Artist Collectives 2021 – Coordination of the group exhibition “Atış Serbest - Mecmu” (with Ayça Telgeren, Levent Aygül, Çağrı Saray, Volkan Kızıltunç) 2018 – Coordination of the group exhibition “Atış Serbest-4” (with Ayça Telgeren, Levent Aygül, Volkan Kızıltunç) 2016 (ongoing) – HAH Artist Collective (Co-founded with Sevgi Aka, Ayça Telgeren, Defne Tesal, Gizem Karakaş, Murat Yıldız)
Selected Collective Works With Defne Tesal, 2021 – “Supposition,” Video Performance and Accompanying Drawing Series as part of the group exhibition “Atış Serbest - Mecmu” with the exhibition coordination team at Atış Serbest 2021 – “Atış Serbest - Mecmu,” Group Exhibition, with the support of SAHA Association (Artists: Aslı Dinç, Burak Dikilitaş, Levent Türkan, Volkan Kızıltunç, Ayça Telgeren, Çağrı Saray, Memed Erdener, Elif Çelebi, Şule Nur Alev, Elvan Ekren, Güneş Çınar, Vahit Tuna, Ahu Akgün, Defne Tesal, Can Aytekin, Levent Aygül, Atalay Kam Yeni, Güneş Terkol, Didem Erbaş, Erhan Özışıklı), Barın Inn 2019 – “Atış Serbest - 4,” Group Exhibition (Artists: Ahu Akgün, Ayça Telgeren, Can Aytekin, Defne Tesal, Devrim Karakuş, Ekin Saçlıoğlu, Erhan Özışıklı, Güçlü Öztekin, Güneş Çınar, Güneş Terkol, Hayri Ağan, Komet, Levent Aygül, Sami Baruh, Volkan Kızıltunç, Yaşam Şaşmazer, Yiğit Altıparmakoğulları), Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Tophane-i Amire Culture and Arts Center Cistern Galleries
With HAH, 2019 – “Digestion Programme: Processor,” Invited by Birbuçuk Kolektif, 16th Istanbul Biennial, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Museum of Painting and Sculpture 2018 – “HAH Calendar” 2018 Calendar, HAH Members together with Sena Başöz, Lara Ögel, Romina Meriç, Sevgi Aka, Uzay Kere, Beste Kopuz, Onur Ceritoğlu. Published by Art Unlimited 2018 – “There is Another Possibility: About Open Space and Artist Collectives,” Kasa Gallery 2017 – “MÇPS,” İMÇ5533, HAHasks: Reading Performance 2017 – “Maybe, We will Benefit from Our Neighbor’s Good Fortune,” Group Exhibition, Halka Sanat Project 2017 – “Vesile,” Group Exhibition, HAH Members together with Etem Şahin, Lara Ögel, Selim Birsel, HAH Mekan
Selected Performances 2017 – Curated by Her Hal Kolektif, “Repetition-cycle Talks and Performance Series,” Dila Yumurtacı’s performance entitled “Transcending the Senses,” Salt Galata, Istanbul 2017 – Curated by Ayça Ceylan and Pınar Derin Gençer, “To Remember-To Forget” Self-service Art Performance Days, Dila Yumurtacı’s performance entitled “Transcending the Senses,” Palazzo Tibaldi, Istanbul 2017 – As part of the exhibition entitled “Vesile,” Gizem Karakaş’s performance entitled “We Remember After Joe Brainard and Georges Perec,” HAH Mekan, Istanbul 2017 – Curated by Seyhan Musaoğlu and Simge Burhanoğlu, “How are You?” Mamut Performances, Dila Yumurtacı’s performance entitled “Transcending the Senses,” Mamut Art Project, Istanbul
Selected Publications and Catalogues 2022 – “Voids,” Exhibition Catalogue, Published by Mixer 2022 – “Rounded by Sleep,” Exhibition Catalogue, Published by ARTER, (pp. 6-8) 2021 – “Tell Me Your Story,” Published by Paper Street Co., With the Contribution of the Consulate General of Israel and Gnat Micro Press, (pp. 114-123) 2021 – “Tuhaf Duygular, Tuhaf Diyaloglar,” Book Cover, Author: Ebru Ceylan, Doğan Kitap 2021 – “Past.Present.İstanbul,” Exhibition Catalogue (pp. 38-43) 2021 – Moero Fanzine, 3rd Issue (Home), Link 2021 – “Olympos Exhibitions II - Landscape,” Exhibition Catalogue (pp. 86-93) 2020 – Mangal Media, Illustration for the Article entitled “The First Pop Song I Remember” by Sezgin İnceel and İlker Hepkaner Link 2019 – 37th Akbank Contemporary Artists Prize, Exhibition Catalogue, (pp. 22-27)
2018 – HAH Calendar, Published by Art Unlimited 2017 – “Vesile” Exhibition Catalogue, Published by HAH
