Kezban Arca Batıbeki

Kezban Arca Batıbeki was born in Istanbul in 1956. She graduated from the Graphic Arts Department of the Fine Arts Academy at Marmara University in Istanbul in 1980. After graduating, she was exposed to artistic pursuits throughout her childhood, resulting in an early interest in painting and drawing. She published her first children book for the Millet publishing company in 1974. She created an animation film for the Swedish State TV, where she worked as production designer and photographer on this film. She also has written many articles on art, travel and art festivals for magazines. In 1983 Batıbeki relocated to the United Kingdom where she focused on her paintings, splitting her time between Oxford and London. It was during this time that she participated in many group exhibitions with both Turkish and International artists such as at Lukas Feichtner Art Gallery in Vienna (2007) and the Baku Biennial (2008). She also has had sixteen solo exhibitions including “On the Road” at the Bunka Quint Gallery in the Costume Design Museum in Tokyo (2004); her video installation work: “I shot Andy Warhol” in Istanbul Proje4L Elgiz Museum of Contemporary Art (2005). In December 2005 she organized and featured display of short films at 17th Turkish Film Days in Strasbourg. Batıbeki is widely regarded as one of the most insightful artists concerned with the popular culture found in Turkey’s contemporary art scene. She works on paintings, photographs, installations and short films. Batıbeki has been presented with the Grand Prize at the Esbank awards twice (1992 and 1993). Batıbeki currently lives and works in Istanbul.

Reference: kezbanarcabatibeki.com; lebriz.com; sanalmuze.org; alifart.com; Sotheby’s London Contemporary Art Turkish, 4 March 2009 (London 2009), p. 46 and 99.