PROFILE
Mertim Gokalp was born 1981 in Istanbul. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Istanbul. Founded in 1882, Mimar Sinan F.A.U. is Turkey’s leading Fine Arts University.
Mertim moved to Australia in 2009 and since then he has participated in many group exhibitions and held several solo exhibitions. His contribution to the contemporary Australian art scene has been recognised by the Australian Government with a ‘distinguished talent’ visa, allowing him to live and work in Australia.
Mertim giving his opening night speech at “The Descendants” project, April 2015
“Mertim aims to challenge and confront the viewers with their deepest feelings. His work shows the influence of the masters, incorporated into his unique edgy and contemporary style. There is a roving melody that runs through all of Mertim’s work, which marks it as distinctive with a richness of execution and depth of conceptualisation.” (Catalogue notes)
COMMISSIONS
Mertim is available for commissions, and his work is in many private collections in Australia and Turkey.
WEBSITE: www.mertim.com.au
AWARDS
2013 Hunters Hill Art Prize, People’s Choice Award – Sydney
2012 School of Visual Arts, Honourable Mention – New York
2012 Hunters Hill Regional Art Prize, Winner – Sydney
2012 Hunters Hill Art Prize, Highly Commended & Commended Awards – Sydney
2012 Real Refuses The Democratic Archibald Prize, Winner – Sydney
2011 Hunters Hill Art Prize, Highly Commended – Sydney
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2014 – ‘Feathers and Kisses’ Art2Muse Gallery Double Bay, Sydney
2013 – ‘Borderline’, Danks St Gallery Sydney
2011 – ‘Buoyancy of Water and Bloody Rats of Sydney’, TAP Gallery, Sydney
SPECIAL PROJECTS/EXHIBITIONS
2015 – “The Descendants”, An exhibition of portraits at the Rocks Heritage Museum in Sydney. A tribute to the descendants of the Turkish and Australian soldiers who fought at Gallipoli 1915.
2012 – “50 Faces of Balmain”, Balmain Art Show. Featuring the residents of Balmain.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2015 BP Portrait Prize – Semi Finalist – London
2014 Doug Moran Portrait Prize Semi Finalist – Sydney
2014 Glencore Percival Portrait Prize Finalist -Townsville
2013 Archibald Prize Finalist – Sydney
2013 Doug Moran Portrait Prize Semi Finalist – Sydney
2013 Hunters Hill Art Prize People’s Choice Award – Sydney
2012 Doug Moran Portrait Prize Semi Finalist – Sydney
2012 School of Visual Arts, Honourable Mention – New York
2012 Hunters Hill Regional Art Prize, Winner – Sydney
2012 Hunters Hill Art Prize, Highly Commended & Commended Awards – Sydney
2012 Real Refuses The Democratic Archibald Prize, Winner – Sydney
2011 Black Swan Art Prize Finalist – Perth
2011 Real Refuses The Democratic Archibald Prize, Winner – Sydney
2011 Hunters Hill Art Prize Highly Commended – Sydney
2009 Brunswick Street Gallery Works on Paper Finalist – Melbourne
2009 Brunswick Street Gallery Small Works Finalist – Melbourne
2009 Rex Livingston Art Gallery Mount Eyre Art Prize Finalist – Sydney
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2014 PAA Group Exhibition, Australian Embassy, Washington DC USA
2014 PAA Group Exhibition – Australians at Work, Melbourne
2012 Celebrating Innovators, Parliament House, Canberra
2011 Transience, Sydney
2011 Palm House Exhibition, Sydney
2010 Start Studio Art Fest, Balmain NSW
2009 Changeable Art, Kirribilli NSW
2009 Brunswick Street Gallery, Works on Paper, Melbourne VIC
2009 Brunswick Street Gallery, Small Works, Melbourne VIC
2008 Karsi Sanat, Art against War, Frankfurt
2008 Karsi Sanat, Ortadoguda Isgale Karsi Sanat, Istanbul
ART FAIRS
2014 Contemporary Istanbul
2013 The Australian Art Show
Mertim with Donald Keys and the portrait from ‘The Descendants Project” 2015.