Sitka Gulergun

Sitka Gulergun (born July 18th, 1955) is a fine artist based out of Boston, Massachusetts known for his significant contributions to the art world through Sitka Home Art Gallery..https://www.sitkahome.com/press-1
==Early Life==
Family Background
Sitka Gulergun was born in Mersin, Turkey, a coastal town recognized for its export harbors. His mother, while primarily a homemaker, also pursued studies in tailoring and knitting, contributing to a creative atmosphere at home. His father worked initially as an accountant before moving into the citrus export business, focusing on shipments from Turkey to Europe. Outside of his professional life, his father engaged in photography and painting during his free time, activities that exposed Gulergun to the arts from a young age. He grew up with two siblings, an older brother and a younger one, in a household that combined creative interests with entrepreneurial endeavors, which would later influence his career in both fashion and fine art.
Education and Early Interest
Sitka Gulergun's engagement with art began at the age of two, when he observed his father painting. This early exposure fostered an interest in colors and painting that persisted throughout his life. Growing up in a community that valued artistic expression, Gulergun received encouragement from those around him. One of his father's friends notably commented on his natural talent, describing it as "a golden bracelet." In his youth, Gulergun drew inspiration from Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, particularly admiring their realist styles.
Gulergun pursued formal art education at Oxford Further Education College, where one of his teachers recognized his potential and suggested he undertake a Foundation Art program at Banbury School of Art in Oxford. After completing the one-year program, he specialized in textiles at Croydon College of Art in South London, studying there for three years. He continued his education at St. Martin's School of Art, where he earned three master’s degrees in Fashion Illustration, Textile Design, and Museum Research. This diverse academic training contributed to his innovative work in both fashion and fine art.
Early Artistic Development
During his time at Banbury School of Art, Sitka Gulergun participated in a significant project that contributed to his artistic development by exploring the transition from realism to abstraction. The assignment required students to select a subject and depict it in a realistic style. Gulergun chose a red tea kettle surrounded by various objects. His professor then encouraged him to reinterpret the painting by moving from realism toward abstraction. In the second stage, Gulergun applied a cubist approach, breaking the objects into geometric forms. In the final stage, he reduced the subject to its most basic form, presenting it as a simple red outline. This exercise expanded Gulergun’s understanding of different methods of artistic expression and broadened his perspective.
Gulergun’s artistic sensibilities were also shaped by his early experiences in Mersin, Turkey, where the vibrant colors of the orange and lemon groves influenced his work. The historical and colorful environment of his hometown continues to have an impact on his art today.
==Personal Life==
Sitka Gulergun married Helaine in 1987 in Boston. The couple met while working at a design studio in New York City's garment district, where they both shared a professional focus on textiles and design. They have three children together. Gulergun lived in New York from 1980 until 2017, during which he became involved in the city's art and fashion scenes. In 2017, he and Helaine relocated to Boston, where they established the Sitka Home Art Gallery, a venue that features his diverse and colorful works.
In addition to his artistic pursuits, Gulergun is a sports enthusiast. He developed a passion for sports during his youth while playing soccer and, after moving to the United States, embraced various American sports. His interest in sports complements his energetic and dynamic approach to life and art, contributing to the creative atmosphere he shares with his family.
Category:1955 births
Category:Artists
Category:People from Boston
Category:Turkish people