Orhan Taylan - Turkish Painting Association - UK- Headquartered in London

Who is Orhan Taylan?

He was born in Samsun in 1941. He started his education in his hometown and completed his primary education. He graduated from the American Boys’ High School in Istanbul in 1960. In accordance with a law enacted after the military intervention on May 27, 1960, he applied to serve as a teacher as a reserve officer and worked as a teacher in Sazlıköy, Söke district of Aydın, for two years.

He moved to Italy in 1962 and continued his education at the famous Academy of Fine Arts in Rome and studied mural painting techniques. He graduated from the academy in 1966 and returned home.
After returning to the homeland, he joined the Turkish Workers’ Party at that time and undertook the visual designs of TİP and various unions.

In 1976, he completed his first large mural at an art festival in Antalya and was elected President of the Visual Artists Association. A leading member of the Peace Association, he was sentenced to imprisonment in a case brought by a military court in 1982 and was released in 1986.

Between 1988 and 1990, his works were exhibited in various cities, including London, Amsterdam and Moscow. During this period, he concentrated especially on oil paintings and opened many exhibitions in his workshop in Istanbul, and also participated in many group exhibitions.
The son of painter Seniye Fenmen, he is a graduate of Robert College and the Rome Academy of Fine Arts.
Orhan Taylan's works cannot be found in various museums of the world and Turkey. Does not participate in group exhibitions. He does not pay attention to those who try not to include his name in Turkish painting art selections. When he opens an exhibition abroad, he does not have the desire to become famous there.
They have no interest in writing prison memoirs or boasting about their family. Because he does not like to judge other artists, he does not take part in painting juries and expert panels. He doesn't grow a beard or smoke a pipe.
He does not underestimate the tradition of mastery in painting. He does not make engravings or reproduce his sculptures. He does not hide his doubts about the contribution of art teaching to creativity. He does not believe that exorbitant prices should be charged for his paintings to be considered important. Does not use watercolor.
He wouldn't trade his own oil painting, his son Ferhat, literature, his Macintosh and the joy of having a big workshop for anything else. He does not neglect his evening drink. He is left-handed. He does not name his painting within movements. He does not believe that avant-gardism and the substitution of experimental-conceptual works for art can mislead art lovers. He does not belittle the concept of human rights. He considers it a virtue to defend democracy against both the police state and the sharia state. He does not live abroad.
The light of hope in Orhan Taylan's works was also a reflection of his life journey. His artistic adventure, which he started as a teenager in Turkey in the 1960s, showed itself in his works; There was a story, a hope in every brush stroke.
His talent and passion took him far beyond the borders of the country. Taylan was a worldwide star.
Orhan Taylan passed away on November 4, 2023.

Short Films Directed by
Lingo Lingo Bottles - 1970 Animation / Gönül Dinçer Taylan, Orhan Taylan
Hisar Short Film Competition, Special Award. 1970

Movies Made About
1988 "Pictures of Longing", Director: Nurdan Arca, Documentary, 24 min., Production Agency 21,
2003 Orhan Taylan, His Life and Art", Director: Murat Düzgünoğlu, Documentary 54 min.,
2003 "Orhan Taylan in His Workshop", Director: Angelika Brudniak, Documentary, 34 min., Kaos Production,