Bio
Mert Acar (b. 1989, Ankara) is a contemporary artist from Turkey working with photography, video, and installation art. His work revolves around architectural and landscape elements within transitional spaces, exploring themes and concepts such as memory, transformation, placelessness, anonymity, and temporality at the intersection of natural and built environments. His lens-based art practice also serves as the foundation for his installations, where photographic imagery becomes both a material and a conceptual framework.
He completed his BFA (2012) in Graphics Department at Hacettepe University and spent a semester as an exchange student at Saint-Luc Liège in Belgium. He holds both an MFA (2017) and a DFA (2023) from the Painting Department at Gazi University. Based in Ankara, he lectures in Visual Arts Department at AHBV University and is represented by Vision Art Platform in Istanbul.
Solo Shows
2024 A Fading Distance / Vision Art Platform, Istanbul, TR
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
2024 Ağaçlar Konuşunca / Cendere Sanat, Istanbul, TR
2024 Olimpos Sergileri 3: Enteriyör / Karaköy, Istanbul, TR
2022 Remedy for the Soul / Vision Art Platform, Istanbul, TR
2022 Döngü / Gru Art Gallery, İzmir, TR
2022 Hits Different / Vision Art Platform, Istanbul, TR
2022 Not Behind The Scenes / Vision Art Platform, Istanbul, TR
2022 Maybe Later / Sığınak, Ankara, TR
2021 BASELECTED / Tophane-i Âmire, Istanbul, TR
2021 Temas Darağaç 6 / Umurbey Mahallesi, Izmir, TR
2021 TAYFA 35 / Vision Art Platform, İstanbul, TR
2021 No Room for a Door / Vision Art Platform, Istanbul, TR
2020 Akbank 38th Contemporary Artists / Akbank Sanat, Istanbul, TR
2020 Yol / Müze Evliyagil Art Oda, Ankara, TR
2019 Planetary Dysphoria / Generation and Display, London, UK
2019 Printed'19 Multiple Choice / Mixer Galeri, Istanbul, TR
2018 Akbank 36th Contemporary Artists / Akbank Sanat, Istanbul, TR
2018 Mixer Sessions III / Mixer Galeri, Istanbul, TR
2018 Mekan Atölye V / Cermodern, Ankara, TR
2018 Sweet Little Lies / Plato Sanat, Istanbul, TR
2017 BASE / Galata Rum Okulu, Istanbul, TR
2017 Mekan Atölye IV / Cermodern, Ankara, TR
2017 Urban Obscura / Siyah Beyaz Galeri, Ankara, TR
2017 Mamut Art Project / KüçükÇiftlik Park, Istanbul, TR
2016 Mekan Atölye III / Cermodern, Ankara, TR
2016 Locus Mahal / Versus Art Project, Istanbul, TR
2015 ODTÜ Sanat 16 / METU, Ankara, TR
2022 Maybe Later / Sığınak, Ankara, TR
2021 BASELECTED / Tophane-i Âmire, Istanbul, TR
2021 Temas Darağaç 6 / Umurbey Mahallesi, Izmir, TR
2021 TAYFA 35 / Vision Art Platform, İstanbul, TR
2021 No Room for a Door / Vision Art Platform, Istanbul, TR
2020 Akbank 38th Contemporary Artists / Akbank Sanat, Istanbul, TR
2020 Yol / Müze Evliyagil Art Oda, Ankara, TR
2019 Planetary Dysphoria / Generation and Display, London, UK
2019 Printed'19 Multiple Choice / Mixer Galeri, Istanbul, TR
2018 Akbank 36th Contemporary Artists / Akbank Sanat, Istanbul, TR
2018 Mixer Sessions III / Mixer Galeri, Istanbul, TR
2018 Mekan Atölye V / Cermodern, Ankara, TR
2018 Sweet Little Lies / Plato Sanat, Istanbul, TR
2017 BASE / Galata Rum Okulu, Istanbul, TR
2017 Mekan Atölye IV / Cermodern, Ankara, TR
2017 Urban Obscura / Siyah Beyaz Galeri, Ankara, TR
2017 Mamut Art Project / KüçükÇiftlik Park, Istanbul, TR
2016 Mekan Atölye III / Cermodern, Ankara, TR
2016 Locus Mahal / Versus Art Project, Istanbul, TR
2015 ODTÜ Sanat 16 / METU, Ankara, TR
Education
2023 Doctor of Fine Arts / Painting, Gazi University, TR
2017 Master of Fine Arts / Painting, Gazi University, TR
2012 Bachelor of Fine Arts / Graphics, Hacettepe University, TR
2011 Exchange Program / Graphics, Saint-Luc Liège, BE
Selected Art Fairs
2024 CI 19th / Vision Art Platform, Istanbul, TR
2024 Photo London / Vision Art Platform, London, UK
2023 CI 18th / Vision Art Platform, Istanbul, TR
Books
2018 Placeholder Monograph / Subjectively Objective, US
Awards and Shortlists
Features and Interviews
2019 Seen Magazine
2018 Warhola Mag
2018 Plato Sanat Blog
2017 International Photography Magazine
2017 Manifold
2017 Orta Format
2016 iGNANT
2016 C41 Magazine
2018 Warhola Mag
2018 Plato Sanat Blog
2017 International Photography Magazine
2017 Manifold
2017 Orta Format
2016 iGNANT
2016 C41 Magazine