I’m not a biennial artist

Ardan Özmenoglu (also written Ozmenoglu) is a versatile Turkish artist who works in a wide range of mediums including large-scale glass sculptures, works on Post-It® notes, photography and neon lighting. Since her first exhibition in 2006, her unique work has been featured in over forty exhibitions in the U.S. and abroad including Istanbul, Berlin and Croatia.

Born in Turkey in 1979, Özmenoglu attended

Bilkent University in Ankara and there she received her BFA in Urban Design and Landscape Architecture and her MFA in Graphic Design.

She wrote a thesis on Site Specific Screenprinting. She completed residencies in California, Berlin, Belgium and Vienna. While receiving her MFA, Özmenoglu studied with Professor Alexander Djikia, a prominent Russian artist. Her study of architecture enhanced her appreciation for 3-Dimensionality in art and this prompted her experimentation with Post-It® notes and glass sculpture in 2005, two mediums she has now mastered and works with regularly.

Özmenoglu’s work is highly original in medium, design and content. Although there is a tradition of Post-It® note art, her body of work distinctly stands out. Her playful work, ripe with sociopolitical commentary, challenges the viewer to reconsider familiar images, products and ideas. She cleverly uses ubiquitous items, such as glass and Post-It® notes, to create pieces of art that unite seemingly opposing ideas: the past and the present, art history and contemporary art trends, creativity and consumerism, repetition and individuality, the whole and the fragmented. She unites the centuries old practice of printing with modern colors, glitters, paper and images. Her brightly colored, bold art forces the viewer to consider everyday objects and ideas in a different light. The result is anything but predictable.

Özmenoglu recently relocated from Istanbul to Brooklyn, New York City to work on pieces for her show at BDG. She greatly enjoys the city and devotes hours a day to her work- she declares, “art is my husband.” Özmenoglu supports this comparison with stories of fights, discussions, good times, rough times and long nights- all with her art. She fell in love with art as a child and she remains deeply passionate about her work. Her highly original and creatively unprecedented works are proof of her ongoing dedication.

Language: Englisch