Zuhal Yücel - Turkish Painting Association - UK- Headquartered in London

Who is Zuhal Yücel? (1968-Bafra)
• Born in Bafra, Samsun, Zuhal Yücel completed her primary and secondary education in Bafra.

• 1989 – She entered the Painting Department of the Faculty of Fine Arts at 19 Mayıs University.

• 1990 – Two of her sculptures were exhibited at the Ankara State Fine Arts Gallery of 19 Mayıs University.

• 1990 – One of her works was awarded and exhibited at the Ordu Provincial Painting Competition.

• 1990 – She participated in a mixed exhibition at the Samsun Archaeology Museum.

• 1993 – She graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts at 19 Mayıs University.

• 1994 – She opened her personal exhibition at the Marmaris İçmeler Art House.

• 1994 – She participated in a mixed exhibition at the Marmaris Art Gallery.

• 1995-2010 – She organized mixed and personal exhibitions at different intervals in Samsun Bafra.
• 2000s – Continued to work in Mehmet Güleryüz and İsmail Acar studios.

• 2010 – Participated in solo and group exhibitions organized as part of Istanbul’s status as the Capital of Culture.

• 2010-2020 – Participated in group exhibitions among teachers.

• May 23-26, 2024 – Participated in the International Art Contact Istanbul Contemporary Art Fair.

• June 1-10, 2024 – Participated in the painting exhibition ‘4. Dream Stories’ with Anita Gallery.

• July 27 – August 4, 2024 – Participated in the painting exhibition at Luna Grande Gallery.

• August 1-6, 2024 – Participated in the exhibition ‘East to West’ project with Hermetism Gallery.

• August 21-25, 2024 – Participated in the Bodrum Art Fair IAAF exhibition.
• November 24, 2024 – Participated in the Teachers’ Day Mixed Exhibition organized by the District National Education Directorate.

• December 29, 2024 – January 4, 2025 – Participated in the ‘Hello to the New Year’ Prestige Mixed Exhibition at the Adalar Culture Association.

• January 21, 2025 – January 23, 2025 – Participated in the ‘Four Seasons in Pera Palace II mixed painting exhibition.
• February 20, 2025 – February 23, 2025 – Participated in the ‘Art Ankara” 11th International Contemporary Art Fair Mixed Painting Exhibition.

Art Perspective;

By bringing together figurative and abstract compositions, he creates a multi-layered narrative that reflects both the depths of the human soul and the unique dynamism of nature. His paintings offer a visual poetry where colors and forms that go beyond figures and reveal emotion, movement and the spirit of nature are intertwined.
In his figurative works, he treats the human body and faces not with clear lines but with a conscious method of obscuration, making the individual's identity a part of a collective memory. Female figures are depicted not only as individual beings, but also as carriers of the past, cultural heritage and emotional narratives. The movement in his compositions reflects not the frozen moment of a narrative, but a constantly changing form in the flow of time.
On the other hand, the rhythm and energy of nature manifest themselves more freely in the artist's abstract works. The color palette brings together the calming depth of blue and cold tones with the excitement of warm and vibrant tones, evoking both a sense of calm and movement. Birds, flowers and other elements of nature are not concrete objects in these works, but emotional narratives shaped by the artist’s inner world.
The spontaneous and fluid use of brushstrokes demonstrates the combination of randomness and emotional intensity in Yücel’s art. Layered paint textures give physical depth to her works, inviting the viewer not only to an image but also to a feeling and experience. This balanced transition between the figurative and the abstract reveals how the artist skillfully plays with narrative flexibility and aesthetic variety.
Zuhal Yücel adopts an approach in her art that explores both human nature and the world around us without adhering to a specific mold.