Gülsün Karamustafa

Gülsün Karamustafa — Biography

Nigâr Gülsün Karamustafa (born 2 December 1946 in Ankara) is a Turkish contemporary artist whose practice spans painting, sculpture and video. Active for more than four decades, she has taken part in numerous international contemporary art exhibitions since the 1990s, and her work is held in major private and public collections. Her pieces address themes such as gender, identity, exile and migration, reflecting on the social trauma of nation-building shaped by the military coups of 1960, 1971 and 1980.

In 2014 she received the Prince Claus Award for her contribution to culture and society; in 2023-2024 she represented Turkey at the 60th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, and in early 2024 her book "Oyuk ve Kırık Dökük: Bir Dünya Hâli" was published. She continues to live and work in Istanbul.

Karamustafa has also worked in cinema, collaborating closely with director Atıf Yılmaz on several films and co-directing "Benim Sinemalarım" — adapted from a novel by writer Füruzan — together with her. In 2026 she remains active on the contemporary art scene, featured in the exhibition "Aşk, Mark ve Ölüm" at Depo in Istanbul.