Gözde İlkin

Gözde İlkin works with found household fabrics that have become objects of memory representing social identity and social processes. The motifs and drawings on the fabrics reflect contemporary cultural knowledge, political and social relations and gender issues. She traces nature to explore ways of belonging. She traces the healing and transformative effects of bringing together forms, plants, animals and people inspired by nature. Recently, Ilkin has started to design fabric installations as a live stage through drawing, stitching and sound. 

 İlkin (b. 1981, Kütahya, Turkey) completed her undergraduate degree from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University painting department in 2004 and her graduate degree from Marmara Fine Arts Faculty painting department in 2012. Lives and works in Istanbul, Turkey.

Selected solo exhibitions include Invisible Bonds, Companion Roots, Paris B, Paris (2023);The Eye of the Earth, The Mouth of the Ground, Gypsum Gallery,Cairo (2022); “Entrusted Ground“.artSümer Gallery, Istanbul (2022); “MAC VAL Garden: As the roots spoke, the cracks deepen“ MAC/VAL Museum, Paris (2019)

Selected group shows include include ”Anteprima x Chat Contemporary Textile Art Prize", CHAT, Hong Kong (2024); ”Les voix des fleuves, Crossing the water", the 17th edition of the Lyon Biennale, Lyon FR (2024); Manifesta 15 Barcelona Metropolitana, Barcelona (2024); “In Real Time“ NYUAD Art Gallery, Abu Dhabi (2024); “All images will dissaper one day“ 4. Autostrada Bienali (2023); “Venedigsche Sterne“ Chur, Switzerland (2022); “Rooted Beings, Wellcome Collection“ London (2022); “It's Just a Phase“ Trodheim, Norway (2021); “UnNatural History“ Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry, UK (2021); “Minds Rising, Spirits Tuning“ 13th Gwangju Biennial, South Korea (2021); “The Event of a Thread: Global Narratives in Textiles“  Istanbul Modern Museum (2019); ); “A Good Neighbour", 15. İstanbul Biennale, Pera, İstanbul (2017); ”Spaceliner" Arter, Istanbul (2015); “Hyper Real The Passion of the Real in Painting and Photography“ MUMOK Vienna (2010)

She has participated in artist residencies at the Water Mill Center, New York; IASPIS, Stockholm; MAC VAL Museum, Vitry-sur-Seine, Paris; Pioneer Works, New York; Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris. İlkin was part of the artist collective Atıl Kunst, between 2006 and 2013.