Yücel Erdogan, submitted artwork
Yücel Erdogan
Painting
Bennington, V T
Turkish-born American artist Yücel Erdogan, a man of protean talents and profound feeling, arrived in the US thirty years ago to attend graduate school. After earning a Master’s Degree in graphic design from Pratt Institute, Yücel built a successful advertising and design career in New York City, creating award-winning international campaigns for brands such as Van Clef Arpels, Tumi, Natori, Nike, Bacardi, Dewar’s and Ciroc. Acclaimed as an illustrator and photographer, his work has been published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other elite publications. Painting is Yücel’s passion. His most recent works, often of the human form, move between representation and abstraction, alive with energy and grace, while displaying unusual emotional depth. Formerly based in Brooklyn, Yücel now lives and works in Bennington, VT, where his studio is a converted barn. In nearby Hoosick Falls, New York, he converted the soaring spaces of an historic department store into a restaurant, numerous lofts and an art gallery featuring his work and that of other artists.
Works
Yücel Erdogan, submitted artwork
A man of two nations, my heart riven by opposing traditions and points of view, I understand deeply the conflict, fear, and rancor splitting apart our world. These divisions are not abstract to me; they are not safely at a distance; awareness of them screams within me, and is expressed in my work. My recent portraits speak to the forces of hatred tearing our world asunder. They speak to the suffering of those caught in circumstances beyond their control and the helplessness of those who bear witness. Painted on canvas, these paintings depict the frightening, chaotic and confusing emotions threatening to overwhelm those who allow themselves to feel. My figures scream into the void, yes, but they are not static. They swoon and sweep and struggle. They move through space with urgency. They are not empty. They are not frozen. They call out to others. They struggle to survive. These paintings express my response to the political and human tragedies of our time. I hope viewers will engage with my portraits personally. I hope they will recognize themselves, and also, recognize the other - and our shared humanity.
