Veli Aras Yalçınkaya - Turkish Painting Association

Who is Veli Aras Yalçınkaya? (1987-Erzurum)

He completed his undergraduate studies at Gazi University, Gazi Faculty of Education, Department of Painting in 2014; his graduate studies at Gazi Institute of Educational Sciences in 2018; and his doctorate at Hacettepe University, Institute of Fine Arts, Department of Painting in 2024. He received a total of eight awards, including the 5th, 6th and 7th Contemporary Art Project Competitions organized by the Ministry of Culture and the 17th and 18th Şefik Bursalı Painting Competitions. His works were exhibited at the 73rd State Painting and Sculpture Competition and the 37th DYO Art Awards. He opened five solo exhibitions and participated in numerous national and international group exhibitions. The artist, who continues his active studio activities, also continues his work in a classroom environment within the scope of the project aimed at combining artistic and pedagogical purposes.

Art Perspective;
Art is not only aesthetic and formal; On the contrary, these works, which argue that it should also open space for elements seen as “formless”, “excess” and “waste”, are associated with Georges Bataille’s concept of “formless” (informe). According to Bataille, formless is an area that overturns existing hierarchies, value systems and aesthetic ideals, remains outside the order and is therefore ignored. In this context, formlessness represents both a counter-stance and an alternative understanding of aesthetics. In the works carried out in line with this understanding, coincidence, deviation and encounter are placed at the center of art. Art is no longer an orderly and controlled form of production serving a predetermined purpose; it takes on a fluid structure open to unexpected situations. Torn tapes, leftover canvases, ropes and objects that would be thrown away, which are not traditionally seen as “art materials”, turn into new carriers of meaning within this understanding. Each of them represents both material excess and the excluded in a symbolic sense.

Solo Exhibitions;
2025 The Perfection of Imperfection, Evliyagil Museum, Ankara
2024 Making the Ordinary Visible, Hacettepe University Adnan Turani Art Gallery, Ankara
2022 Excesses, Fikret Otyam Art Center, Ankara
2013 Transformation, Erge-Art Gallery, Ankara

Success Awards;

2021 Ministry of Culture Young Art: 7th Contemporary Art Project Competition, Tarık Zafer Tunaya Cultural Center, Istanbul
2019 Ministry of Culture Young Art: 5th Contemporary Art Project Competition, Cermodern, Ankara
2019 Ministry of Culture 18th Şefik Bursalı Painting Competition, Anadolu University Contemporary Arts Museum Eskişehir
2017 Ministry of Culture 17th Şefik Bursalı Painting Competition, Güvenpark Art Gallery, Ankara
2014 Karabük University Nature and Industry Themed Painting Competition, Karabük
2013 Gazi University Traditional Painting and Sculpture Competition, Malik Aksel Art Gallery, Ankara
Honorable Mentions; 2020 Ministry of Culture Young Art: 6th Contemporary Art Project Competition, Tarık Zafer Tunaya Cultural Center, Istanbul
2016 Adana Painters Association Painting Competition, Adana Cement Art Gallery, Adana
Exhibition Awards;
2021 Ministry of Culture 19th Şefik Bursalı Painting Competition, Cermodern, Ankara
2018 37th DYO Art Awards, Galata Greek School, Istanbul
2017 3rd Yunus Ensari Painting Competition, Platform A Art Gallery, Ankara
2016 Ministry of Culture 73rd State Painting Sculpture Competition, Trabzon State Fine Arts Gallery, Trabzon
2015 2nd Yunus Ensari Painting Competition, Platform A Art Gallery, Ankara
2015 Saküder Painting Competition, GaleriM Art Gallery, Ankara
2015 Ege Univ. 6th International Aegean Art Competition, Izmir State Fine Arts Gallery, Izmir
2015 2nd Eskişehir Art Association Painting Competition, Metropolitan Art Center, Eskişehir
2014 1st Yunus Ensari Painting Competition, Platform A Art Gallery, Ankara
2014 Peker Art Awards, Contemporary Arts Center, Ankara
2013 Sada Art Awards, Nevşehir Fine Arts Gallery, Nevşehir
2012 Pamukkale University Intercultural Painting Camp Painting Competition, Denizli
2012 Söbütay Özer Painting Competition, Cermodern, Ankara

Mixed Exhibitions; 2024 Mersin Contemporary Art Fair, Art-Sentez, Mersin
2024 Sentez, Andlart Gallery, Bursa
2023 100th Year of the Republic Exhibition, Kambur Gallery, Istanbul
2023 Entropi, FiArt Art House, Ankara
2023 100th Year of the Republic Exhibition, Kambur Gallery, Istanbul
2022 8th Artankara Contemporary Art Fair, Ankara
2022 Inside, Vagabond Art Gallery, Adana
2022 October 29, İçel Art Club Ali Macit Nane Hall, Mersin
2022 Eprimek, Design Foundation Art Gallery, Mardin
2021 New Generation Art from Anatolia to Istanbul, Tarık Zafer Tunaya Cultural Center, Istanbul
2021 New Generation Art Summer Mixes, Leartesian Art Space, Muğla
2021 Distancing, Soyut Gallery, Ankara
2020 6th ArtAnkara Contemporary Art Fair, Ownership, Ankara
2019 Artweeks Akaretler, How Should I Say, Istanbul
2019 Seyr-ü Sefer, Hacettepe Univ. Turan Erol Art Gallery, Ankara
2019 Spoiler, Don Quixote Art Cafe, Istanbul
2018 4th Artankara Contemporary Art Fair, Collective Art, Ankara
2018 Reflection, Mojoart Art Gallery, Ankara
2018 Escape from the Center, Gallery Kara, Ankara
2018 Caravanserai Meeting Contemporary Art Exhibition, Malatya
2018 QR Code, Arda Art Gallery, Ankara
2018 6th Orange Blossom Carnival, KorArt Art Gallery, Adana
2018 Truva, Bartın Municipality Art Gallery, Bartın
2017 3rd Artankara Contemporary Art Fair, New Age Collection, RC Gallery, Ankara
2017 Prestıge, Contemporary Arts Center, Ankara
2017 New Generation Painters Meeting, Çankaya Art Gallery, Ankara
2017 Barcode, ASO Art Gallery, Ankara
2016 Az, Mustafa Ayaz Foundation Museum, Ankara
2016 International Korean-Turkish Artists Mixed Exhibition, Ardahan University, Ardahan
2016 III. TÜSGAD Together with Youth Exhibition, Contemporary Arts Center, Ankara
2015 World Art Day, Sinop Culture Center, Sinop
2015 84th İzmir International Fair, Turkish-Russian Friendship Foundation Collection Exhibition, İzmir
2015 Letters-2, Kars Culture and Arts Center, Kars
2015 Alienation, La Galeria Culture and Arts Center, Ankara
2015 II. TÜSGAD Ankara Art Meeting, Young Generation, Contemporary Arts Center, Ankara
2014 3rd Page Paper Artists Association, Orange Blossom Residence Art Gallery, Ankara
2014 3rd International Ankara Art Meeting Exhibition in the 99th Year of the Republic, Ankara
2014 Ayaküstü, Graduate Exhibition, Contemporary Arts Center, Ankara
2014 Çanakkale Victory, Peace Honeycombs Exhibition, Çanakkale
2014-15 World Art Day, Sinop Culture Center, Sinop
2014 Blue Initiative, So We Are, Contemporary Arts Center, Ankara
2014 Letters, Bartın Culture Center, Bartın
2014 41 Dreams exhibition, Ordu Culture and Art Center, Ordu
2014 BRHD 44th Year, Contemporary Arts Center, Ankara
2014 211 Exhibitions- 2, Tamsanat Online Gallery
2014 Witnesses, Tamsanat Online Gallery
2014 My Teacher, Tamsanat Online Gallery
2013 4R3 Graduation Exhibition, Gazi University Malik Aksel Exhibition Hall, Ankara
Workshops Participated
2018 Yaşar Education and Culture Foundation 3rd Altın Yunus Art Workshop, İzmir
2017 MEB Basic Education General Directorate, Writing Education, İstanbul
2016 8th Orange Blossom Art Colony Art Workshop, Sakarya
2015 Gerze Municipality International Art Workshop, Sinop
2015 International Butterfly Valley Art Workshop, Muğla
2014 Nature and Art, International Marmaris Art Workshop, Muğla
2014 Giresun University 2nd International Women's Symposium and Art Workshop, Giresun

Invited Speeches;
2024 4th ArtContact International Contemporary Art Fair, Aesthetics, Istanbul
2024 10th Artankara International Contemporary Art Fair, Classroom as a Work of Art, Ankara
2023 41st Akbank Contemporary Artists Award Exhibition Speeches, Respect for Spinoza, Istanbul
2021 Ministry of Industry and Technology, Istanbul Development Agency, Success Stories Presentations, Istanbul

Publications;
2025* Hacettepe University Art Writings Journal, An Artistic Game: Making the Ordinary Visible, page -, Issue: 52, Ankara
2024, Hacettepe University Art Writings Journal, Mladen Stilinovic and Money, page 118‑131, Issue: 50, Ankara
2023, Düzce University Tykhe Art and Design Journal, Bringing Life to a Classroom as a Work of Art, page 320‑336, Issue: 15, Düzce
2017, MEB Primary School 3rd Grade Music Book, Visual Design Specialist, Ankara
2015 TYD, On the Discovery of Astronomy from Central Asian Culture to Sumerian Civilization, page, 35‑37, issue:366, Ankara
2022, Excesses Exhibition, Vecdi Uzun, Mecmuaistanbul, İstanbul
2017, Young Painter Interviews, Culture-Art Magazine November Issue, 44-45, Istanbul
2017, Lines, Kolajart, http://kolajart.com/wp/2017/07/21/vecdi-uzun-veli-aras-yalcinkaya-cizgiler
2017, Art Competitions in Turkey: Şefik Bursalı Painting Competition, UnlimitedArt,, Istanbul