Ozlem Yikici is an artist living and working in London, England. Born in Hackney, she has lived there for most of her live with her two sisters, as well as spending 10 years in Türkiye. Ozlem enjoys evoking feeling through the use of colour and intuitive brushstrokes in her work. She explores abstraction within landscape settings and draws on the surrealist technique of automatic drawing with expressionism.
Ozlem Yikici is a visual artist seeking to create art aimed at raising the public awareness of our perceived identities within our society. Shortlisted for The Visual Artist Association Professional Artist Award 2022, Ozlem Yikici is a multidisciplinary artist, predominantly working with oil paints and watercolour. Participated in 15+ group exhibitions and 2 solo shows. Her innovative understanding of tuning into energies and creating different portraits and landscapes has her exploring what essentially defines us and what parameters surround us. In essence, she explores what makes up our identities. Why are we expected to conform? What makes us unique? These questions prompt her to highlight a different way of being and seeing: One where individuality is key. To do this, she bridges the gap between abstract and figurative art – creating alternative worlds where nothing is as it seems. The ordinary morphs into otherworldly with expressionistic and surreal brushstrokes, bringing a new way to be curious and explore freely. Ozlem lives and works in London UK.
Art CV
Education
2000
BA (Hons) Fine Art with Related Arts
Specialising in painting
University College of Chichester (awarded by University of Southampton)
Degree Show: The Earthquake Series: This body of work is about my perception of the earthquake that took place in Istanbul in 1999. Looking at it from one angle, the one of fear, happiness (for surviving) and sadness (for those who died).
1997
Foundation HND in Art & Design
Chelsea School of Art
Awards
2023
Longlisted – The Visual Artist Association Professional Artist Award 2023
2022
Shortlisted – The Visual Artist Association Professional Artist Award 2022
Exhibitions
Click on the venues to read more about the exhibition and artwork exhibited.
2024
Celebration of Life! Spiritual Art Virtual Exhibition, Group Show.
SMAG ART Group Exhibition, physical & online exhibition, Blackheath London, UK
2023
What do we know? Spiritual Art Virtual Exhibition, Group Show curated by Karen van Hoey Smith.
Banners Group Exhibition, the banners are on display in an empty shop front on Cygnet Square.
SMAG ART Group Exhibition, physical & online exhibition, Blackheath London, UK
2022
Parallax Art Fair, Chelsea London, UK
Bauhaus Nights, Mid-Summer Nights Dream Exhibition, Lakeside Centre Bow Arts, Abbey Wood, London UK
Twitter Exhibit 2022, York, UK
The Erith Exchange, Arts & Craft Market, Erith, London UK
Platinum Jubilee Celebration Mini Exhibition, Open Studio, Abbey Wood, London UK
Blue and Yellow Exhibition, Greenspace Gallery, Ferryside Wales, UK
Incognito 2022, Secret Art Auction, Ireland & Online
We Are All In This Together: Hackney during the pandemic, Hackney Museum, Hackney London, UK
Explorations 1998-2021, Snug Art Cafe, Green Lanes London, UK
2021
SMAG ART Group Exhibition, physical & online exhibition, Blackheath London, UK
Collective Perspective, Online Art Show, end of lockdown 3-D virtual exhibition
Explorations 1998-2021, Snug Art Cafe, Green Lanes London, UK
Parallax Art Fair, Chelsea London, UK
2020
Art Gallery SW, online exhibition, Bath, UK
2000
Degree Show, The Earthquake Series, University College Chichester, Chichester UK
Chichester Open Exhibition, Chichester UK
1999
48-hour show at University College Chichester, Chichester UK
Collaborative Projects
2022 – Bauhaus Nights, Event management, planning & curating, London, UK
2020 – 2021 – The Golden Sketchbook Project, collaborating with other artists in producing a sketchbook page for a travelling sketchbook. Sketchbook was auctioned for charity in 2021, for MIND UK.
2020 – 2021 – Website collaboration with a team of 6 artists, coordinating 36 artists to set-up their About and Artists’ Statement pages for the website. I was the main person to oversee this website project. Online project.
2000 – Design for Degree Show poster, working together with other artists. University College Chichester, Chichester.
1999 – e-motion, Otter Gallery Chichester. A collaboration with the artist in residency, Susan Diab. Website no longer online.
Private Commissions
2024
Empire Heights Under the Full Moon, Oil on Canvas, commissioned by SY; Memory Art of her time spent in New York, USA.
2023
Libby the Spirit of Freedom I & II, Oil on Canvas Board, commissioned by Kay Brock; Memory Art of her beloved pet dog running along Black Rock on Widemouth Beach, Cornwall
2019
Rainbow Forest, Oil on Canvas, commissioned by Phil Ivens; Abstract Expressionist Painting of Borneo Rainforest inspired by a photograph he had taken on his travels.
Public Collections
2022
The Unexpected Starts Here is now part of the Hackney Museum’s permanent collection
Private Collections
2022
Spring Twilight, Watercolour on Paper, London UK
The Cosmos, Watercolour on Paper, Cardiff UK
Dragon Moon, Watercolour on Paper, Cardiff UK
2021
The Storyteller, Oil on Canvas, London UK
Kay’s Inner World Portrait, Watercolour on Paper, Devizes UK
D&J’s Inner World Portrait, Watercolour on Paper, Wiltshire UK
E, L & J’s Inner World Portrait, Watercolour on Paper, Devizes UK
John’s Inner World Portrait, Watercolour on Paper, Herts UK
Charley’s Inner World Portrait, Watercolour on Paper, York UK
Andrea’s Inner World Portrait, Watercolour on Paper, Cardiff UK
2020
Lesnes Abbey, Colour Study 3, Oil on Paper, London UK
2000
Various private collections (8 paintings) in the UK and around the World (London, Oxford, Chichester, and Istanbul).
1996
Plaster relief sculpture depicting regeneration, Hackney Sixth Form Centre, London UK Mock Exam painting, self-portrait, Oil on Paper, Hackney Sixth Form Centre, London UK
1995
Exam Painting, A Storytelling Scene, Oil on Paper, Hackney Sixth Form Centre, London
Publications & Press
2023
Thamesmead Banner Project, was a community project instigated by Marcus Orlandi. Ozlem Yikici joined the project and made a banner it amongst many. The banner project was featured on ITV News.
2023
“What Do We Know: New Exhibition Helps Rebrand Spiritual Art” Karlismyunkle May 10, 2023.
https://www.karenlfrench.com/uploads/1/3/6/4/13642597/what_do_we_know__2_.pdf
https://www.karenlfrench.com/blog
2022
‘The Unexpected Starts Here‘ featured as part of the permanent collection in the Hackney Museum’s website.
https://museum-collection.hackney.gov.uk/object-2022-86
https://museum-collection.hackney.gov.uk/names/AUTH5776
2022
The Lesnes Abbey Wood Collection featured in the Lesnes Abbey Woods Community Gallery.
2016
Book Review written by Ozlem Yikici:
2014
Poetry blog written by Ozlem Yikici: ‘A Poets Journey’ https://scribblingink.wordpress.com
2012
Article written by Ozlem Yikici: ‘What If Risks Led to Your Success?’
Photo Credits
2019
Image used in the press article: ‘Hackney author writes children’s book about Harriet Tubman’
https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/21148992.hackney-author-writes-childrens-book-harriet-tubman
Professional Affiliations & Membership
2024
Member of Professional Artist Association
2023
Member of a-n The Artists Information Company
2021
Member of the Visual Artists Association
Residencies & Art Festivals
2022
Shortlisted for Hypha Studios Mason & Fifth’s Primrose Hill Residency
2021
Longlisted for Wirksworth Festival Online Art Prize sponsored by Longcliffe Community Fund
Early Education
1995 – 1997
A-Level Art & Design, Hackney Sixth Form Centre, London UK, A*