DENIZ OZUYGUR
Location:
İstanbul, Türkiye
ARTIST BIO
Deniz Ozuygur (b. Istanbul) received a BFA from New York University and has exhibited her multidisciplinary works internationally. Having grown up in New York City, her practice is deeply informed by her personal experiences navigating cultural intersections. Her work spans sculpture, photography, video, and ceramics, and incorporates unconventional materials such as fuse beads, baby clothes, tampons, and other domestic objects. Deniz's practice explores themes of gender, identity, and labor, frequently examining societal expectations and the lived experiences of women. Drawing from both personal narratives and cultural memory, Deniz juxtaposes traditional craft techniques with contemporary concerns, subverting familiar forms to challenge societal norms.
Her works have been exhibited in Istanbul, New York City, Miami, Venice, Portugal and Warsaw. Deniz is a recipient of the Jack Goodman Scholarship for Art & Technology. The artists’ works are held in private collections and have been featured in Time Out New York and NBC News.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My work is an exploration of identity, motherhood, cultural heritage, and the intersections of personal and collective experience. I use materials and symbols from everyday life, transforming them into critical reflections on issues of gender, labor, and societal expectations. These choices are intentional, blending humor and poignancy to address themes like the invisibility of women’s work, the vulnerability of childhood, and the complexities of care.
Personal narratives become vehicles for universal themes, allowing me to critique global and local crises with an intimate lens. By grounding my work in lived experience, I aim to create spaces for empathy and dialogue while challenging cultural and social norms. Through the interplay of materiality and concept, I examine the ways in which identity is shaped by external forces and internal struggles. My work invites viewers to confront difficult questions about justice, equity, and resilience while offering moments of connection and reflection.
