At our 566th Art Gathering, we are visiting the studio of painter Yalçın Gökçebağ.
Painter Yalçın Gökçebağ, known as the "Painter of Anatolian Dreams," was born in 1944 in Zeyve (Akkent) village of Çal district in Denizli, as the middle child of Tahir Öğretmen, a teacher, and Hayriye Hanım. After completing primary school in Çal, he entered Gönen Primary Teacher Training School (formerly known as Village Institute) in 1954, where he distinguished himself with his talent in painting and music. In 1957, he attended the Painting Seminar at Çapa Primary Teacher Training School; during this period, he received basic painting instruction from teachers such as Malik Aksel and İlhami Demirci. After graduating in 1961, he worked as a teacher for a year, then entered the Painting and Crafts Department of Gazi Education Institute in 1963, graduating in 1966. His professional life began as a painting teacher at the Akşehir Primary Teacher Training School. Between 1968 and 1970, he completed his military service as a reserve officer in Kütahya. After returning from military service, he worked in various jobs in İzmir before joining TRT (Turkish Radio and Television Corporation) as a cameraman in 1971, a position he held for many years. Following his retirement, he worked as a lecturer in the Fine Arts Department at the Middle East Technical University (METU). His artistic approach reflects his work, which depicts the pastoral countryside of Anatolia, its nature, and human relationships in a simple, poetic, and sincere language. Although often referred to as a "naive painter," the artist describes this as a style created by subtlety; figures and landscapes are interwoven almost like embroidery. For Gökçebağ, whose inspiration for paintings comes from nature and the daily life of Anatolian people, the "Beetroot Carts" and their horse-drawn carriages he saw while teaching in Akşehir in 1965-66 were a significant turning point in his art. His career includes numerous solo and group exhibitions in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, and London. His works have been exhibited in prestigious venues such as Vakko Art Gallery and Armoni Art Gallery. For his contributions to art, he received the Contemporary Arts Foundation (ÇAĞSAV) Honorary Award in 2021 and won first place in the Painting category of the Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Awards in 2025. Currently giving exhibitions in Istanbul, Yalçın Gökçebağ continues to leave his mark on Turkish painting with his unique style.
Wednesday, August 5th
12:00-13:00
Address: Caddebostan Mahallesi Cemil Topuzlu Caddesi 18 Mart Sokak Sahil Evleri No:9 A-3 Kadıköy
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3zuSppvQg8eFeTyR9?g_st=ic
