Deniz Güvensoy is an artist, curator, and cultural researcher. She earned her Doctorate of Fine Arts from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in Istanbul. After working as an artist, editor, art critic, and Assistant Professor in Istanbul, she relocated to Vienna in 2016. She serves as the chairwoman and program director of Fabrikraum Kunstverein, a Vienna-based art association, and independent space. The core of her professional activity is defined by her role as a cultural mediator between experts and local communities, addressing social issues through interdisciplinary artistic methods.
In her artistic practice, Deniz Güvensoy employs various techniques such as performance, painting, collage, photography, digital printing, and installation. Her work often addresses issues like migration, the border regime, the performative qualities of borders, and their relation to the gendered body. Besides her artistic production, she emphasizes collective artistic production, and socially engaged artistic practices and seeks to develop her artistic interests through research, curation, education, and workshops. Education:
Education
-2024 Universität für die angewandte Kunst Wien, Doctorate in Philosophy Program,,2022-2023 IWM SEE Graduate Scholarship, 2015 Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Doctorate of Fine Arts Degree, 2008 Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University M.F.A., Department of Painting, 2005 Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, B.F.A., Department of Painting
PROJECT DIRECTOR Das Goldene Buch : Feminist Zine workshops January 2023- September 2023
FESTIVAL CURATOR Wienwoche Art and Activism Festival 2022, Working Class Ecologies December 2021-September 2022
CURATOR Weaving Time GALERIE Peter Gaugy, 2024, Quietly Loud (GALERIE Peter Gaugy, 2023),Resilience & Care (2023), Oikos (2022, Brunnenpassage), Kunst Kebab (2017), Aporias (2016)
CO-DIRECTOR Fanzineist Vienna 2019, Art Book and Zine Fair, January-May 2019
ASST. PROFESSOR Istanbul Altinbas University, September 2015 – June 2016
RESEARCH ASSISTANT, Istanbul Okan University Art and Cultural Management Program, September 2010 – May 2013 EDITORIAL Artfullliving Online Art-Magazine , June 2013 – January 2014 (editor), Milliyet Sanat Magazine, Art Unlimited, Artfullliving, ARTIST Actual Modern (2010-2013, art critic)
ARTIST GUIDE, PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Eurovision Song Contest (2004, Backstage assistant), OECD Conference, Istanbul (2004, guide of Minister of Production, Italy), Istanbul Biennale (2001-2003-2005, Guide, Translator and Artist Assistant) Istanbul Jazz and Music Festivals (2000,2005)
Conferences and Workshops
20.09.2024, Crossing Boundaries: Art as a Pathway to Inclusion, Amerika Haus, myCulture GmbH, Vienna,
17.09.2024 “Who Are We? Image Of Migrant Workers – Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow”, Wienwoche Festival, Depot -Kunst und Diskussion, Vienna
29-30.03.2024 17th Geo-aesthetics Conference, Towson University, College of Liberal Arts & Fine Arts, Maryland USA 02.02.2024 ‘Creativity as a Political Tool’ Panel Discussion, Creative Disruption Event, Central European University Vienna,
June 2023 Class/ism & Performing Arts, Closed Workshop Group, Tanz Quartier Vienna ,
26.05.2023 Junior Fellowships Symposium, IWM,
17.03-18,03.2023 16th Geo-aesthetics Conference, Towson University, College of Liberal Arts & Fine Arts, USA 25.09.2022, WIENWOCHE is 11+: Dimitrova, Güvensoy, Herold, Mackuljak, Marjanović, Micić, DEPOT Kunst und Diskussion, Wienwoche Art and Activism Festival,
23-24.03.2022 Space, Site, Installation: Philosophy, Art Theory and Art Practice Conference, Palazzo Bo, University of Padua, Italy, 2019 Angewandte Festival, ‘Szine’, zine workshop with Giulio Paolini,
29.10.2018 Lecture on ‘Borders as Passages and Aporias’ , Social Design Alumni Event, Die Angewandte Vienna,
2-5.08.2018 Color Theory workshop, Pratiche Cambiano Art Festival Bosco Sociale San Palino, Brescia,
2-5.11.2017 Color Theory Workshop, C’e una yurta nel Bosco! Community Art Festival, Brescia,
14-15.03.2016 International colloquium | Positions: Philosophy, Research, Society, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt and Academy of Fine Arts Vienna,
10.11.2014 Guest Lecture: Space and Identity in Contemporary Art from Turkey, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Post-Conceptual Art Studio, Vienna