Tuğçe Diri was born in Eskişehir in 1984. She graduated from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in 2010, with a degree from Applied Lithography Atelier and Painting Department. In 2019, she completed her Master's degree from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Painting Department with the thesis "Reflections of Traditional Arts on Contemporary Turkish Painting".
Working in series and using materials such as acrylic / oil paint, charcoal / ink pencil, collage, fabric, yarn, she holds drawing at the beginning of her production practice. Drawing is always at the core of her work. Diri is influenced by a wide range of periods and techniques, from Arte Povera to Surrealism, from the dynamism of Abstract Expressionists to the design and text-painting traditions of Islamic Arts. Exhibiting a synthesisist spirit in her productions, blending the concepts of history, memory, culture and nature with the visual culture based on tradition, Tuğçe Diri collides cultural distinctions and similarities in the context of art and craft on a formal plane.
Tuğçe Diri lives and works in Istanbul.
Education
1997 - 2002
Eskişehir Anatolian Fine Arts High School
2004 - 2010
Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Painting, B.A.
Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Print Making
2013 - 2019
Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Painting, M.F.A.
2023 -
Istanbul University, Open and Distance Education Faculty, Cultural Heritage and Tourism
Thesis:
“Reflections of Traditional Arts on Contemporary Turkish Painting”
Publications & Workshops & Artist Residencies & Talks
2024
‘Underneath The Stones; Moment & Archive’ Exhibition Catalogue, 500 Hard Copies by Anna Laudel Gallery
Artist Interview with Buket Bal, Artnivo
2022
Live Drawing Performance, Vrijhof Culture, University of Twente, Enschede
AreHolland, 3 Months Artist Residency, Netherlands
2020
The Stones Tell: Essays on Fragments and Temporal Fractures, Salt Online Study Groups: Workshop By Hera Büyüktaşçıyan
2018
Artist Talk, Another World, in conversation with Gizem Gedik, Anna Laudel Gallery, İstanbul
‘Another World’ Exhibition Catalogue, 500 Hard Copies by Anna Laudel Gallery
2017
Open Studio Days, Workshop, İstanbul
Selected Exhibitions & Fairs
2024
Underneath The Stones; Moment & Archive, Anna Laudel Gallery, İstanbul (solo)
Zona Maco Art Fair, Anna Laudel Gallery, Mexico
ArtShow Gallery Meeting, Anna Laudel Gallery, İstanbul
2023
Abu Dhabi Art Fair, Anna Laudel Gallery, Abu Dhabi
Artweeks Akaretler VIII, Anna Laudel Gallery, İstanbul
Far/Near Vol.1 Exhibition, İzmir Painting and Sculpture Museum Kültürpark Art Gallery, Alsancak, İzmir
Asia Now Paris Art Fair, Anna Laudel Gallery, Paris
”A Laughter We Would Call Joyless”, Online Exhibition, Artnivo
2022
'Hits Different', Vision Art Platform, İstanbul
'The Cyclical Nature Of Time', Anna Laudel Gallery, İstanbul
'Mono-Signs', Anna Laudel Gallery, Düsseldorf (solo)
Contemporary İstanbul, Anna Laudel Gallery, Tersane İstanbul, İstanbul
Mono-Signs, Residency Exhibition, Vrijhof Culture, Enschede (solo)
Artweeks Akaretler, Interdisciplinary Art Project, Anna Laudel Gallery, İstanbul
'A Repertoire of Extinctions', Vision Art Platform, İstanbul, Curated by: Çağrı Saray
2021
'Over Again', İstanbul AKM Gallery, İstanbul, Curated by: Haldun Dostoğlu, Gizem Gedik
Contemporary İstanbul, Anna Laudel Gallery, İstanbul
'Residual Recollection', Simbart Projects, İstanbul
2020
Step İstanbul, Anna Laudel Gallery, İstanbul
Contemporary İstanbul, Anna Laudel Gallery, İstanbul
2019
Art Market II, Anna Laudel Gallery, İstanbul
Step İstanbul, Anna Laudel Gallery, İstanbul
‘Housewarming II’, Anna Laudel Gallery, Düsseldorf
Contemporary İstanbul, Anna Laudel Gallery, İstanbul
‘A Place I Can Learn’, Group Exhibition, Endless Art Taksim, İstanbul
2018
‘Another World’, Anna Laudel Gallery, İstanbul (solo)
Art Market I, Anna Laudel Gallery, İstanbul
Contemporary İstanbul, Anna Laudel Gallery, İstanbul
‘Seeing the Small Picture’, Academician Art Center, İstanbul
2017
2016
‘21 Ways of Being an Ideal Artist’, Academician Art, İstanbul
‘Rooms And Walls’, Anna Laudel Contemporary, İstanbul
Contemporary İstanbul, Anna Laudel Gallery, İstanbul
‘Complicated’, Imoga Art Space, Istanbul
‘Loop’ , Anna Laudel Gallery, İstanbul (solo)
2011
9. Exhibition of International Art Festival, Monastir, Tunisia Küçükçekmece Municipality Painting Competition Exhibition, Küçükçekmece Cennet Culture
and Art Center, İstanbul
2010
Artist 2010 Art Fair, TÜYAP Beylikdüzü, İstanbul
2009
ARTSHOW Gallery Selvin, İstanbul