Alp Serif Besen

Art, Design and Ideas

ALP ŞERİF BESEN

SHORT BIO
STATEMENT
PERSONAL INFO & CONTACT
CURRICULUM VITAE

Academy
Proficiency
Work Experiences
Exhibitions
Publications

PORTFOLIOS

SHORT BIO:

Alp Serif Besen received their bachelor’s degree in Architecture from İstanbul Bilgi University in 2018. After a while working as an architect for a number of design offices, in 2020, they then moved on to pursue a career in architecture & design media. They took various roles in design teams, architectural publications, design-oriented organization teams, exhibition crews and NGO’s. Currently, Alp works as a freelancer, mostly focusing on communications, event organizations and graphic design. Besides their professional endeavours, Alp also pursues a career in arts. Alp’s first solo exhibition Almost Touching opened in 5533 in April 2024.

ARTIST STATEMENT:

Alp Şerif Besen is a multidisciplinary artist and designer who thrives on the freedom to explore and express ideas through a diverse array of mediums. Their work spans paintings, sculptures, installations, prints, texts, digital art and animations, with each piece emerging from a deep connection to the concept rather than a predetermined form or medium. For Alp, the medium is a vessel chosen to best communicate the essence of an idea, allowing them to fluidly navigate between different forms of expression.

This approach sets Alp apart from many contemporary artists who may become closely identified with a particular medium or style. Alp’s practice is rooted in the belief that the message should dictate the medium, not the other way around. This philosophy enables them to engage with a wide range of materials and techniques, creating work that is as varied as it is cohesive.

Alp’s dual identity as both an artist and a architect gives birth to a deterministic method of thinking, where causality and precision play pivotal roles in their creative process. They approach their work with the rigor and structure of design projects, ensuring that each piece not only embodies artistic expression but also a clear, purposeful design. This unique perspective allows Alp to seamlessly blend the worlds of art and design, often resulting in hybrid forms that challenge traditional boundaries.

PERSONAL INFO & CONTACT:

Pronouns: they / them
E-mail: alp.serif@gmail.com 
Phone: +90 533 379 23 47
Date of Birth: March 1995
Nationalities: Turkish, Australian, American
Residence: Istanbul, Turkey
Social Accounts:

CURRICULUM VITAE

Academy:
Listed from the most recent to the oldest

  • AURA Istanbul
    Independent Architectural Researcher
    Fall‘19 – Win‘20
    Research on “Spaces of Sex Work in Istanbul”
  • Teaching Assistant
    w/ Tansel Korkmaz in Arch 402
    Istanbul Bilgi University
    Spring’19
  • Istanbul Bilgi University
    Major in Architecture
    (after relocation) 2016-18 graduation)
    GPA: 3.82
  • Pratt Institute
    Major in Architecture
    2014-16 (until relocation)

Proficiency:

  • Languages:
    Turkish (Native)
    English (Advanced)
  • Software:
    Adobe Illustrator: 5/5
    Adobe Photoshop: 5/5
    Adobe Indesign: 5/5
    Adobe Premiere: 3/5
    Rhinoceros 3D: 5/5
    SketchUp: 3/5
    Blender 3/5
    Autocad: 3/5
    Microsoft Word, Exc., PP.: 4/5
    Figma: 3/5
    WordPress: 5/5
    Squarespace: 5/5
  • Zodiac:
    Aries (Sun)
    Libra (Rising)

Work Experiences:
Listed from the most recent to the oldest, by the ending dates

Exhibitions:

  • Almost Touching
    Solo Exhibition @ 5533 Art Space
    04.2024
  • Habitus
    Group Exhibition @ Hush Gallery
    06.2023
  • Grounding
    Group Exhibition @ studio nest
    04.2023

Publications:

PORTFOLIOS:

Art Portfolio
Graphic Design Portfolio
Architecture Portfolio