Selma Gürbüz occupied a position in the contemporary art world through a multifaceted practice that spanned painting, sculpture, and video art. Her creative output achieved international recognition, evidenced by her inclusion in the Artprice list of the top 500 best-selling contemporary artists in 2016, where she ranked 425th globally.
Formative Years and Education
Born in Istanbul in 1960, Gürbüz began her formal artistic training at the Exeter College of Art and Design in England. Starting in 1978, she dedicated her studies to painting, photography, and theatre, later focusing on painting and sculpture between 1980 and 1982. She completed her formal education in 1984, graduating from the Department of Painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Marmara University.
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The artist held her first solo exhibition in 1986. Over the following decades, her work reached global audiences through exhibitions in Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and Buenos Aires. Her pieces were acquired by significant institutions, including the British Museum in London, the Fondation Maeght in Paris, and the State Art and Sculpture Museum in Ankara. Domestically, her work entered the collections of SantralIstanbul, İstanbul Modern, Proje 4L, and Bilgi University.
Multidisciplinary Artistic Output
While painting remained central to her identity, Gürbüz expanded her portfolio into sculpture, weaving, and engraving. Her engagement with cinema involved serving as the artistic director for two films directed by Ömer Kavur: the 1997 production Akrebin Yolculuğu, also known as The Scorpion's Journey, and the 2002 film Karşılash, or The Encounter.
Documentation and Final Works
Several publications documented her career, such as the 2011 book Selma Gürbüz: Shadows of My Self, edited by Rose Issa, and the 2013 guidebook Three Writings for Selma Gürbüz by Ferit Edgü. Shortly before her death, Istanbul Modern released her monograph titled Dünya Diye Bir Yer, or This Place We Call World, to accompany a solo show held at the museum.
Fast facts
- Born: 1960, Istanbul
- Died: 22 April 2021, Istanbul
- Education: Marmara University
- Artistic roles: Illustrator, painter, sculptor, video artist
- Artprice 2016 rank: 425th
Questions readers ask
What caused the death of Selma Gürbüz?
She died of COVID-19 on 22 April 2021, following a three-year period of treatment for cancer.
Did Gürbüz work in cinema?
Yes, she served as the artistic director for Ömer Kavur's films Akrebin Yolculuğu in 1997 and Karşılash in 2002.
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