Ufuk Gueray

Ufuk Ali Gueray (born 1979 in Herrenberg, Germany) is a Turkish-German-Canadian interdisciplinary artist known for exploring themes of cultural hybridity, memory, and the intersection of painting and new technologies. His work spans painting, installation, and new media. Gueray's work has been exhibited widely, including at venues such as the Michael Gibson Gallery, the International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) in New York, and Hermes Gallery in Halifax. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Fine Arts (Painting) at NSCAD University in Kjipuktuk/Halifax, Nova Scotia.https://nscad.ca/bio/ufuk-ali-gueray/
===Early Life and Education===
Born to Turkish immigrant parents, Gueray has lived in Germany, Canada, and Scotland. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art and French Studies from Concordia University (2005) and a Master of Fine Arts from the Glasgow School of Art (2009).https://nscad.ca/bio/ufuk-ali-gueray/
===Career===
From 2013 to 2018, Gueray taught painting, drawing, and printmaking at the University of Manitoba School of Art. His work has been recognized with numerous awards and grants, including an Honourable Mention in the RBC Canadian Painting Competition (2014) for his painting Market, and a Major Arts Grant from the Manitoba Arts Council (2018).https://artscouncil.mb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/mac-annual-report-2017-18-en.pdf
Gueray's artistic practice engages both painting and new media, particularly in projects like Atilla's Mirror Shop, an ongoing installation blending documentary and fictional elements. This project is inspired by his late uncle's mirror shop in Izmir, Turkey, and incorporates sound, photography, and found objects. His recent collaborative exhibition, Oracle Baby, co-presented with Erica Mendritzki, was held at Hermes Gallery in Halifax in 2024.
In 2018, Gueray completed a residency at the International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) in Brooklyn, New York, where he developed his project Atilla's Mirror Shop. His other notable projects include curating La Tristesse Est Le Cinquième État de la Matière at La Maison des artistes visuels francophones in Manitoba (2015), and curating the group exhibition FREE (or best offer) in Winnipeg (2014).
===Residencies and Awards===
* Honourable Mention, RBC Canadian Painting Competition (2014) for Market.https://rbc.com RBC Canadian Painting Competition
* Major Arts Grant, Manitoba Arts Council (2018).https://manitoba.ca Manitoba Arts Council
* Individual Artist Grant, Winnipeg Arts Council (2014).https://winnipegarts.ca Winnipeg Arts Council
* Residency, International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP), New York (2018).https://iscp-nyc.org ISCP
* Deep Bay Artists' Residency, Riding Mountain National Park (2017).https://ridingmountain.org Deep Bay Residency
===Artistic Style and Themes===
Gueray's current research explores the ancient Turkic divination text *Irk Bitig*, reimagining its traditional narratives through modern technologies such as AI and digital media. His work, grounded in materials-based painting techniques, expands into installation and generative art, examining how contemporary technology can reinterpret and engage with cultural heritage.https://nscad.ca/bio/ufuk-ali-gueray/
===Public Collections===
Gueray's collaborative photographic work with artist Erica Mendritzki is included in the Nova Scotia Art Bank.
Category:1979 births
Category:People from Herrenberg
Category:German people
Category:Artists
Category:Turkish people