Blending surrealism with familiar details, Ecem Bozkurt’s vibrant acrylic paintings feel like glimpses into a parallel universe. The Turkey-based artist is celebrated for her fantastical scenes that invite viewers into otherworldly landscapes, where female figures embody a profound, almost supernatural connection to nature.
Bozkurt recently moved from a city to Datça, a small port town in southwestern Turkey, where the surrounding environment has deeply influenced her work. “Living in a Mediterranean climate, I’m blessed with views of hills, two small mountains, and the ever-changing sea,” she tells My Modern Met. “Since moving to this peninsula town, landscapes have naturally entered my paintings, something I rarely included while living in a big city, where nature and sky felt distant.”
The artist adds, “Back then, I didn’t quite know how to represent my inner world; now I feel at ease placing my figures within imaginative landscapes shaped by the beauty I witness each day.”
Bozkurt’s distinct color palette is inspired by the daily sunrises and sunsets she watches in Datça. “My playful motto has become: ‘When in doubt, add more purple,’” she reveals. “It’s my way of celebrating and deepening the luminous pinks and purple hues that greet me each morning.” Bozkurt tells us that she also appreciates the area’s rainy season, when the plants come alive. She says, “Some of my happiest moments are in the studio on a rainy day, my dog asleep beside me, while raindrops tap gently against the windows.”
Infused with both emotion and imagination, Bozkurt’s works reveal periods of working through difficult feelings. “My work is born from these subtle yet transformative experiences,” she shares. “Moments when I’m struck by the mystery of being human, by vulnerabilities, by compassion, by surrendering. On canvas, they became rich and deep purples, softly layered warm lights from multiple sources and imaginative landscapes that represent those inner states.”
Each painting carries an incredible sense of calm, featuring protective figures that seem to embody Mother Nature herself. Bozkurt hopes her work creates space for her viewers to reflect, wonder, and surrender to the moment. “I hope they feel a sense of safety as if they’ve entered a space where they are free to feel whatever arises and question whatever stirs within them,” she explains. “My paintings are not meant to dictate an experience, but to invite one. If someone leaves my work carrying even a trace of safety and openness, then I feel my purpose has been met.”
Bozkurt was selected as a finalist in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine’s “Emerging Artist” category. Check out some of her incredible work below and find more from the artist’s portfolio on Ecem Bozkurt’s website.
Ecem Bozkurt’s vibrant acrylic paintings feel like glimpses into a parallel universe.
The Turkey-based artist is celebrated for her fantastical scenes that invite viewers into otherworldly landscapes.
Female figures embody a profound, almost supernatural connection to nature.
Ecem Bozkurt: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Source: Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2025: Catherine K. Gyllerstrom Emerging Artist Award Finalists Announced
My Modern Met granted permission to feature images by Ecem Bozkurt.
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