Cem Onat was born in 1982 in Ankara. He completed his BA degree at Başkent University Faculty of Fine Arts, at the Department of Graphic Design, and his MA degree from Yeditepe University, Institute of Social Sciences, at the Department of Plastic Arts. As an exchange student during the 2011-2012 academic year, he completed his research on Japanese Buddhism and Japanese Mandalas at Temple University in the USA. He took part in various solo and group exhibitions and also works as a faculty member and Deputy Head of the Department of Art and Culture Management at Yeditepe University.
Onat besides reflecting the traces of philosophical sources that he read during the artistic process, he adopts a style of action painting in which he records his body movement on the canvas. The traces of his action is depicted within an expressionist attitude throughout his paintings. The artist uses his own body as one of the main elements in his artworks and during the production process, aims to ‘become one’ with his paintings by adhering to a mystical pattern.
2022 Dialogues with Kūkai, solo exhibition, Galeri FE – Istanbul
2021 Confrontation, Cer Modern – Ankara
2021 Confrontation, Pera Museum – Istanbul
2021 A Winter’s Tale, with Art50.net, Swissôtel The Bosphorus – Istanbul
2022 Nocturnes, with Art50.net, Swissôtel The Bosphorus – Istanbul
2019 Touches Four, Gallery Desen – Ankara
2018 37. DYO Art Awards Exhibition, Cermodern – Ankara
2017 Der Sirk, Ayn Art Gallery – Istanbul
2017 Art Suites 21. International Workshop Exhibition, Bodrum – Muğla
2017 Two Generations Together III, Maltepe Türkan Saylan Cultural Center – Istanbul
2017 Artists Parked Exhibition, Design Park – İstanbul
2017 Art Suites 25. International Workshop Exhibition, Bodrum – Muğla
2017 Two Generations Together IV, Swissotel Grand Efes – Izmir
2016 States of Substance IV, Karaköy A Morgan Original – Istanbul
2016 Gallery Akdeniz, Solo Exhibition – Ankara
2016 Acting Intuition, Solo Exhibition, Ziraat Bank, Tünel Art Gallery – Istanbul
2015 Two Generations Together II, Kaş Art Gallery – Istanbul
2015 COBS, Yeditepe University, Faculty of Fine Arts – Istanbul
2015 Two Generations Together I, İş Art Gallery – Izmir
2014 Time at Yeditepe- Polyphonic Approaches IV – Istanbul
