Volkan Diyaroglu was born in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1982. Before he started studying at the Fine Arts Faculty of Mimar Sinan University in Istanbul, he worked in studios of some Turkish painters and artists. In Turkey (2002-2003) he began to wash his paintings and to paint using cars. After being awarded the Promoe scholarship he continued his education at Facultad de Bellas Artes de San Carlos de Valencia. Volkan was the first fine arts student from Turkey that was granted the Promoe scholarship. In 2003, at the age of 20, he participated the VIII Istanbul Biennale in collaboration with Galeri Binyil and presented a parallel project of the biennale. In 2004 Volkan exhibited in Sala Naranja in Valencia. At that time Sala Naranja was one of the most important alternative exhibition spaces of Spain. It was the first time in its history that works of a single artist were presented in 3 rooms. In the following years Volkan collaborated with Sala Naranja on many important projects. In 2005, when he was 23 years old, Volkan’s paintings were exhibited in the VI Observatori festival in the Principe Felipe Museum in Ciudad de las Artes y Ciencias of Valencia, together with artists like Gary Hill, Gordon Matta-Clark, Paul McCarthy, Dennis Oppenheim and others. In 2006 he was invited to Paris, France, to prepare an exhibition in Abbaye de Maubuisson. In 2007 he realized the exhibition called “Decalages”, that formed part of the Tram Project which included the most important museums of Paris – Ile de France. The exhibition was held at Abbaye de Maubuisson. The same year Volkan’s biggest exhibition was set up by Sala Naranja in Forja Arte Contemporaneo in Valencia. Shortly after that he was awarded the Cite International des Arts Scholarship in Paris, France. In 2008 he won one of the most important prizes of Spain, XXXV Bancaja Painting, Sculpture and Digital Art Prize. He exhibited in IVAM Museum because of the Bancaja Prize in Spain. He was elected 3 times as one of the top ten artists of Saatchi Gallery among a number of 100 000 artists. In 2009 his work was presented at the Saatchi Gallery in Dubai, Emirates. The same year Volkan represented Turkey at an event called Turkish Culture Season in France. In 2011, at the age of only 29, he was included in Sotheby’s Contemporary Turkish Art Auction in London, UK. His work had been presented at 15 individual exhibitions, his shows had been held in 8 museums, in 10 different countries, and he had been awarded 6 scholarships. Also, many of his works were included in the auctions of 5 different auction houses.
Volkan’s paintings are in many private, gallery, foundation and corporate collections. Apart from painting, his work includes collage, paper, light and installation works. His works are published in many magazines, newspapers and television channels in Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Canada, India, Portugal and Turkey.
Leave a comment