Ayten Alpun

Ayten Alpun is a Turkish-born photographer and visual artist based in Istanbul. She is best known for her work exploring the relationship between humans and nature, as well as her unique approach to portraiture.

Alpun was born in Istanbul in 1975 and grew up surrounded by the city’s vibrant culture. She studied photography at the Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts, graduating with a degree in photography and video art. After graduation, she began working as a freelance photographer, shooting for various magazines and newspapers.

In 2006, Alpun had her first solo exhibition at the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, which showcased her work exploring the relationship between humans and nature. This exhibition was followed by several other solo exhibitions around the world, including shows in London, Paris, Berlin, New York City, Tokyo and Los Angeles.

Alpun’s work has been featured in numerous publications such as The New York Times Magazine, The Guardian, Vogue Italia and National Geographic. Her photographs have also been exhibited at major international art fairs such as Art Basel Miami Beach and Photo London. In addition to her photographic work, Alpun has also created video installations that have been shown at galleries around the world.

Alpun’s work has earned her numerous awards including the Prix de la Photographie Paris (PX3) Gold Award for Fine Art Photography (2014), International Photography Awards (IPA) Honorable Mention (2015) and Hasselblad Masters Award (2016). Her photographs are held in private collections around the world as well as public institutions such as The Museum of Modern Art in New York City.