About Nursel Önen
The Artist Behind Mr. Roo
Nursel Önen is a Turkish artist working in painting, sculpture, and large-scale installations. Born in İzmir in 1980, she has spent over two decades developing a practice that bridges traditional craft with contemporary expression.
Education and Early Career
Nursel completed her primary and secondary education in İzmir before pursuing formal art training. In 2004, she graduated top of her class from Muğla University's Faculty of Education, Department of Painting. She continued her studies at Dokuz Eylül University's Faculty of Fine Arts in İzmir, focusing on sculpture.
Her early work included ceramic panels, mosaics, and wall paintings—large-scale projects that taught her to think beyond the gallery wall. These formative years shaped her understanding of how art functions in public and institutional spaces.
Research and Academic Contributions
In 2017, Nursel presented research on wax sculpture techniques at Dokuz Eylül University. The university formally archived this work, which later informed the development of İzmir's Wax Museum. This research demonstrates her interest in not just creating art, but understanding and documenting artistic processes.
She has also contributed to Turkish art discourse through writing. Between 2014 and 2019, she wrote for several publications including art and culture magazines, where she explored contemporary art practices and interviewed other artists.
Building Cultural Infrastructure
Beyond her studio work, Nursel has helped establish several art spaces in Turkey:
- In 2002, she contributed to founding the Marmaris Municipality Art Center
- In 2005, she established the Akyaka Municipality Art Center, organizing festivals and workshops that brought contemporary art to the region
- In 2010, she founded Bir-Az Art Center in İzmir
These projects reflect her belief that art needs infrastructure—physical spaces where artists can work and communities can engage with creative practice.
Diverse Practice
Nursel works across multiple mediums and scales. Her projects range from intimate paintings and tabletop sculptures to large architectural installations. She has completed commissions for universities, hospitals, and public spaces throughout Turkey and Europe.
Her approach combines technical skill with material experimentation. Whether working in ceramics, paint, or mixed media, she maintains a focus on craftsmanship and careful execution.
International Work
Nursel's work has been shown in Turkey and internationally. In 2014, her work was selected to represent Turkey at Contemporary Art Australia, exhibited alongside artists from ten countries. Over her career, she has completed projects and shown work in Finland, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and elsewhere in Europe, as well as throughout Turkey.
She has presented eighteen solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group shows. Each exhibition represents months of focused studio work, from initial concept through final installation.
Mr. Roo: A New Direction
Mr. Roo emerged from Nursel's desire to create work that speaks across cultural and linguistic boundaries. The character combines her interest in color, form, and emotional expression with a more accessible visual language.
Through Mr. Roo, she explores themes of joy, resilience, and human connection—subjects that resonate regardless of viewer background. Each piece, whether painting or sculpture, carries her attention to craft while embracing a more playful, immediate aesthetic.
The Mr. Roo project represents a shift in her practice, one that maintains her commitment to quality while reaching toward a broader audience.
Working from İzmir
Nursel works from her studio in Bornova, İzmir, where she creates both Mr. Roo pieces and other work. The studio serves as both workshop and exhibition space, where she can experiment with new ideas and meet with collectors and collaborators.
İzmir's artistic community and proximity to both Turkish cultural traditions and contemporary European art scenes inform her work. The city provides both inspiration and practical support for an active artistic practice.
Current Practice
Today, Nursel divides her time between Mr. Roo projects and larger commissioned works. She continues to accept select commissions for architectural installations while developing new directions in her painting and sculpture practice.
Her studio remains open by appointment for those interested in seeing current work or discussing potential projects. She values direct conversation with collectors and curators, believing that understanding context helps create more meaningful work.
Studio visits by appointment
Meriç Mah., 5743. Sk.
MTK Tekstilciler Sitesi No: 3/A
35170 Bornova/İzmir, Turkey
Contact
Information
Instagram: @nurselonenart | @bymrroo
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