ASIM İŞLER (1941-2007)

Asım İŞLER was born in 1941 in Tirebolu. He was a prominent figure in contemporary Turkish painting, known especially for his large-scale works in the abstract expressionist style. As a painter and engraving artist, İŞLER produced many lasting works in the fundamental forms and techniques of painting—particularly oil painting (penture) and original printmaking (engraving). He held his first solo exhibitions in Paris in 1974. Throughout his life, with his prolific and productive personality and artworks, he represented Turkey in numerous solo and international group exhibitions, biennials, and triennials both at home and abroad. His name has been featured in significant art hubs and catalogs.

In 1966, İŞLER graduated from the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied under notable instructors such as Cemal Tollu, Neşet Günal, and Sabri Berkel. After winning the State European Art Scholarship, he went to Paris between 1970 and 1974 for advanced studies in painting. At the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, he studied painting, engraving and lithography in the studios of Dayez, Grenier, and Cremonini. He also trained with the world-renowned engraver S.W. Hayter at "Atelier 17," where he explored the depths of modern engraving art. He pursued doctoral studies at the Sorbonne Faculty of Fine Arts. He held his first solo exhibitions at Galerie FIAP and Galerie Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, showcasing his paintings and engravings. During this period, he represented Turkey in many international exhibitions such as Salon des Réalités Nouvelles (1974) – Paris, 25eme Salon de Jeune Peinture (1974) – Musée d'Art Moderne/Paris, Art International d'Allonnes (1974), Galerie Nord Antiquité – Lille, Galerie Nouvelle Gravure – Paris, Galerie Poisson d'Or – Paris, and the Epinal Print Biennial (1977) – Epinal, France. His works entered major international institutional collections.

After returning from Paris in 1974, Prof. Dr. İŞLER continued his academic career at the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts (now Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University) until 2003. His early artistic period, primarily in the 1960s and 70s, consisted of realist figurative works. Between 1987 and 1992, İŞLER was invited several times to France by the French government.He was involved in academic and artistic exchange programs (as a faculty member, artist and through exhibitions) in 1989-90 at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts (ENSBA) in Paris and in 1991 at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (ENSAD) in Paris. He also gave lectures as a professor at the engraving studio of the Sorbonne University's Faculty of Plastic Arts. During this period, he produced many large-scale works in Paris and held exhibitions. Transitioning to an abstract expressionist style, he participated in major exhibitions such as 33. Salon de Montrouge (1988) / Galerie Montenay – Paris, De Bonnard à Baselitz (1992) / Bibliothèque Nationale de Paris, and "PARISTANBUL" (1990) / Galerie Cité Internationale des Arts – Paris, presenting his large-format canvases, engravings, and Paris Poster Paintings.

Creating works in a universal and abstract expressionist style of contemporary painting, İŞLER held a retrospective exhibition titled "Three Cities, Painting and I" in 2003 at the Grand Hall of AKM (Atatürk Cultural Center). Until his death in 2007, he participated in 36 solo exhibitions and over 180 group exhibitions, biennials, triennials, and fairs both domestically and internationally. His works are housed in many significant collections such as the Victoria and Albert Museum – London, Bibliothèque Nationale de Paris – France, Cité Internationale des Arts Association Collection – Paris, the Turkish Ministry of Culture Collection, the Istanbul – Ankara – İzmir State Museums of Painting and Sculpture, DEMSA, ARKAS Painting Collection, Elgiz Museum of Contemporary Art - Istanbul, Selçuk Yaşar Museum – İzmir, İş Bank Painting Sculpture Museum - Istanbul, Ziraat Bank Art Museum - Izmir as well as in private institutions like Akbank and Ekonomi Bank. The artist was a founding member of the Visual Arts Association in 1975 and served on its board. He was also among the founders of the International Association of Plastic Arts, which began its activities in 1986. Additionally, İşler was one of the first artists to participate in the Turkish painting auction organized by Sotheby’s's in London in 1996.