Bio
Mert Acar (b. 1989, Ankara) graduated from Hacettepe University Graphics BFA in 2012. He studied at Saint-Luc Liège École Supérieure des Arts as an exchange student during his BFA. Then he completed his MFA at Gazi University Department of Painting in 2017 and completed his Doctor of Fine Arts in 2023 at the same institution. He is based in Ankara and works as a research assistant. He's represented by Vision Art Platform in Istanbul.
Mert Acar's works revolve around series, installations, and projects that are rooted in lens-based artistic practices. His creative focus is directed towards the architectural and landscape elements present within transitional spaces, where the boundary between place and space blurs. Within these transitional spaces, where local meanings yield to a global spatial context, he documents the built environment. His artistic practice can be seen as both a production and a research field. When exhibiting his photography and video works, he uses the exhibition space as a layout, seamlessly weaving it into his visual narrative. In his installations, he combines industrial materials with lens-based works.
Solo Shows
2020 Absence / Cermodern, Ankara, TR
2018 Placeholder / Subjectively Objective, Detroit, US
2016 Flashers On / Torun, Ankara, TR
2016 Placeholder / METU, Ankara, TR
2018 Placeholder / Subjectively Objective, Detroit, US
2016 Flashers On / Torun, Ankara, TR
2016 Placeholder / METU, Ankara, TR
Selected Group Shows
2022 Remedy for the Soul / Vision Art Platform, İstanbul, TR
2022 Döngü / Gru Art Gallery, İzmir, TR
2022 Hits Different / Vision Art Platform, İstanbul, TR
2022 Not Behind The Scenes / Vision Art Platform, İstanbul, TR
2022 Maybe Later / Sığınak, Ankara, TR
2021 BASELECTED / Tophane-i Âmire, İstanbul, TR
2021 Temas Darağaç 6 / Umurbey Mahallesi, İzmir, TR
2021 TAYFA 35 / Vision Art Platform, İstanbul, TR
2021 No Room for a Door / Vision Art Platform, İstanbul, TR
2020 Akbank 38th Contemporary Artists / Akbank Sanat, İstanbul, TR
2020 Yol / Müze Evliyagil Art Oda, Ankara, TR
2019 Planetary Dysphoria / Generation and Display, London, UK
2019 Printed'19 Multiple Choice / Mixer Galeri, İstanbul, TR
2018 Akbank 36th Contemporary Artists / Akbank Sanat, İstanbul, TR
2018 Mixer Sessions III / Mixer Galeri, İstanbul, TR
2018 Mekan Atölye V / Cermodern, Ankara, TR
2018 Sweet Little Lies / Plato Sanat, İstanbul, TR
2017 BASE / Galata Rum Okulu, İstanbul, TR
2017 Mekan Atölye IV / Cermodern, Ankara, TR
2017 Urban Obscura / Siyah Beyaz Galeri, Ankara, TR
2017 Mamut Art Project / KüçükÇiftlik Park, İstanbul, TR
2016 Mekan Atölye III / Cermodern, Ankara, TR
2016 Locus Mahal / Versus Art Project, İstanbul, TR
2015 ODTÜ Sanat 16 / METU, Ankara, TR
2022 Maybe Later / Sığınak, Ankara, TR
2021 BASELECTED / Tophane-i Âmire, İstanbul, TR
2021 Temas Darağaç 6 / Umurbey Mahallesi, İzmir, TR
2021 TAYFA 35 / Vision Art Platform, İstanbul, TR
2021 No Room for a Door / Vision Art Platform, İstanbul, TR
2020 Akbank 38th Contemporary Artists / Akbank Sanat, İstanbul, TR
2020 Yol / Müze Evliyagil Art Oda, Ankara, TR
2019 Planetary Dysphoria / Generation and Display, London, UK
2019 Printed'19 Multiple Choice / Mixer Galeri, İstanbul, TR
2018 Akbank 36th Contemporary Artists / Akbank Sanat, İstanbul, TR
2018 Mixer Sessions III / Mixer Galeri, İstanbul, TR
2018 Mekan Atölye V / Cermodern, Ankara, TR
2018 Sweet Little Lies / Plato Sanat, İstanbul, TR
2017 BASE / Galata Rum Okulu, İstanbul, TR
2017 Mekan Atölye IV / Cermodern, Ankara, TR
2017 Urban Obscura / Siyah Beyaz Galeri, Ankara, TR
2017 Mamut Art Project / KüçükÇiftlik Park, İstanbul, TR
2016 Mekan Atölye III / Cermodern, Ankara, TR
2016 Locus Mahal / Versus Art Project, İstanbul, TR
2015 ODTÜ Sanat 16 / METU, Ankara, TR
Education
2023 Doctor of Fine Arts / Gazi University, TR
2017 Master of Fine Arts / Gazi University, TR
2012 Bachelor of Fine Arts / Hacettepe University, TR
2011 Exchange Programme / Saint-Luc Liège, BE
Art Fairs
2023 Contemporary İstanbul 18th / Vision Art Platform, TR
2022 Contemporary İstanbul 17th / Vision Art Platform, TR
2022 Contemporary İstanbul Bloom / Vision Art Platform, TR
2021 Contemporary İstanbul 16th / Vision Art Platform, TR
2021 Contemporary İstanbul 15th / Vision Art Platform, TR
2021 Contemporary İstanbul 16th / Vision Art Platform, TR
2021 Contemporary İstanbul 15th / Vision Art Platform, TR
Printed Matter
2018 Placeholder Monograph / Subjectively Objective, US
Awards & Shortlists
Features & Interviews
2019 Seen Magazine
2018 Warhola Mag
2018 Plato Sanat Blog
2017 International Photography Magazine
2017 Manifold
2017 Orta Format
2016 iGNANT
2016 Archive Collective Magazine
2016 C41 Magazine
2018 Warhola Mag
2018 Plato Sanat Blog
2017 International Photography Magazine
2017 Manifold
2017 Orta Format
2016 iGNANT
2016 Archive Collective Magazine
2016 C41 Magazine