Erdem Taşdelen is a Turkish-Canadian artist who currently lives and works in Tkaronto/Toronto, Canada. Through the use of diverse materials and media, he constructs semi-fictional narratives that incorporate unique historical figures, events and texts to implicate contemporary sociopolitical realities. At the core of his projects lies an exploration of how narrative interacts with its form, and how different forms “stage” narratives.
Taşdelen's work has been shown in numerous exhibitions internationally, and reviewed in publications including Artforum, Flash Art, ArtAsiaPacific, Canadian Art and C Magazine. He has been an artist-in-residence at the Delfina Foundation, London; Rupert, Vilnius; and KulturKontakt Austria, Vienna. He was awarded the Joseph S. Stauffer Prize in Visual Arts by the Canada Council for the Arts in 2016, the Charles Pachter Prize for Emerging Artists by the Hnatyshyn Foundation in 2014, and long-listed for the Sobey Art Award in 2019.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 A Moving Target, BüroSarıgedik, Istanbul (TR) - Curated by Esra Sarıgedik
2022 A Minaret for the General's Wife, Richmond Art Gallery, Vancouver (CA) - Curated by Toleen Touq & Julia Paoli
2022 The Characters: Act III, Art Gallery of Burlington, Burlington (CA) - Curated by Natasha Chaykowski & Suzanne Carte
2021 A Minaret for the General's Wife, Mercer Union, Toronto (CA) - Curated by Toleen Touq & Julia Paoli
2020 The Characters: Act II, AKA Artist Run, Saskatoon (CA) - Curated by Natasha Chaykowski
2019 The Characters: Act I, Untitled Art Society, Calgary (CA) - Curated by Natasha Chaykowski
2019 Vicissitudes, SPACE - Mercer Union, Toronto (CA) - Curated by Julia Paoli
2018 The Curtain Sweeps Down, VOX Centre de l'image contemporaine, Montreal (CA) - Curated by Marie J. Jean
2017 Wild Child & The Quantified Self Poems, Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver (CA) - Curated by Nigel Prince & Shaun Dacey
2016 Postures in Protest, Jim Deva Plaza permanent public art installation commissioned by West End BIA, Vancouver (CA)
2016 A Vagrant Kind of Life, Burrard Arts Foundation, Vancouver (CA) - Curated by Kate Bellringer
2015 Dear, Walter C. Koerner Library, University of British Columbia, Vancouver (CA) - Curated by Lorna Brown
2014 A Petition of the Left Hand, Galeri NON, Istanbul (TR)
2013 Tide, Republic Gallery, Vancouver (CA)
2013 The Semi-Aware Subject, Galeri NON, Istanbul (TR)
2012 What A Drag, 221A, Vancouver (CA) - Curated by Brian McBay
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 Taoyuan International Art Award - Finalists' Exhibition, Taoyuan Arts Centre (TW)
2024 Structural Integrity, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie (CA) - Curated by Noa Bronstein
2024 Gloss: A Measured Response to Recent Video Art, Vanderbilt Museum of Art, Nashville (USA) - Curated by Rachel P. Kreiter
2024 Structural Integrity, Southern Alberta Art Gallery, Lethbridge (CA) - Curated by Noa Bronstein
2023 In Parallel, The Power Plant, Toronto (CA) - Curated by Jacqueline Kok & Joséphine Denis
2023 Rumi, Aga Khan Museum, Toronto (CA) - Curated by Michael Chagnon
2022 Only Reliable Narrators, the plumb, Toronto (CA) - Curated by Miles Rufelds
2021 Two Truths and a Lie, Oakville Galleries, Oakville (CA) - Curated by Theresa Wang
2020 Burning Glass, Reading Stone, Blackwood Gallery, Mississauga (CA) - Curated collectively by Blackwood Gallery staff
2019 The Dream of the Library, Museum für Gegenwartskunst Siegen, Siegen (DE) - Curated by Eva Schmidt
2019 How Far Do You Travel?, Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver (CA) - Curated by Kimberly Phillips
2018 Transcultural Emancipation, Kunst im Fluc, Vienna (AT) - Curated by Ursula Maria Probst
2018 Alien Bodies, Modern Body Festival, The Hague (NL) - Curated by Stelios Manousakis & Stephanie Pan
2018 Vanishing Mediator, Evliyagil Museum, Ankara (TR) - Curated by Aylime Aslı Demir
2018 House of Wisdom, Bonington Gallery, Nottingham (UK) - Curated by Naz Cuguoğlu & Mine Kaplangı
2017 House of Wisdom, Framer Framed, Amsterdam (NL) - Curated by Naz Cuguoğlu & Mine Kaplangı
2017 House of Wisdom, Public Program for the 15th Istanbul Biennial, IKSV, Istanbul (TR) - Curated by Naz Cuguoğlu & Mine Kaplangı
2017 Doublethink, Doublevision, Pera Museum, Istanbul (TR) - Curated by Alistair Hicks
2017 It Is Almost That, Or Gallery, Vancouver (CA) - Curated by Ines Min
2017 House of Wisdom, Dzialdov, Berlin (DE) - Curated by Naz Cuguoğlu & Mine Kaplangı
2016 Freundschaftsspiel, Museum für Neue Kunst, Freiburg (DE) - Curated by Christine Litz & Didem Yazıcı
2016 Meet Me by the Tree, Öktem & Aykut, Istanbul (TR)
2016 Future Queer, ARK Kültür, Istanbul (TR) - Curated by Övül Durmuşoğlu
2015 A Putting Down of Roots, Gallery 1C03, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg (CA) - Curated by Kegan McFadden
2015 In Search of Radical Incomplete, a Perfect Animal Within, Stacion Center for Contemporary Art, Pristina (XK) - Curated by Övül Durmuşoğlu
2015 Reunion, Sakıp Sabancı Museum, Istanbul (TR) - Curated by Erdağ Aksel & Selim Birsel
2014 Beside Yourself, AHVA Gallery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver (CA) - Curated by Marina Roy
2014 Far Away So Close: Part I, Access Gallery, Vancouver (CA) - Curated by Kimberly Phillips
2014 Let Me Tell You This, Gallery 295, Vancouver (CA) - Curated by Jason Gowans & Michael Love
2014 Contemporary Art Society of Vancouver Emerging Artist's Prize Exhibition, Access Gallery, Vancouver (CA)
2013 Things Behind the Sun, Galeri NON, Istanbul (TR)
2013 Here Comes, public artwork commissioned by Presentation House Gallery as part of Capture Photo Festival, Vancouver (CA) - Curated by Jonah Gray
2013 Signs Taken in Wonder, Kunstverein Hannover (DE) - Curated by Simon Rees & Bärbel Vischer
2013 Draft Urbanism, Biennial of the Americas, Denver (USA) - Curated by Carson Chan
2013 Hot Spot Istanbul, Haus Konstruktiv, Zurich (CH) - Curated by Dorothea Strauss
2013 Properties, Western Front, Vancouver (CA) - Curated by Jesse Birch
2013 Signs Taken in Wonder, MAK, Vienna (AT) - Curated by Simon Rees & Bärbel Vischer
2013 Envy, Enmity, Embarrassment, ARTER, Istanbul (TR) - Curated by Emre Baykal
2012 Where I Lived, and What I Lived For, Oakville Galleries, Oakville (CA) - Curated by Jon Davies
2012 Incremental Change, Galeri NON, Istanbul (TR)
2012 Even The Stars Seem To Change Their Position, Sanatorium Projects, Istanbul (TR) (with Lyndl Hall) - Curated by Babak Golkar
2011 The Problem of Nothing, Hayaka Arti, Istanbul (TR) - Curated by Derya Akay & Dilara Akay
2011 Elsewhere, Bahcesehir University, Istanbul (TR) - Curated by Ege Kanar
2010 Taken Up, Slightly Revised, Charles H. Scott Gallery, Vancouver (CA)
2010 10 Years, Kasa Galeri, Istanbul (TR)
2008 Like There’s No Tomorrow, Kasa Galeri, Istanbul (TR) - Curated by Murat Germen
RESIDENCIES
2024 HANGAR, Lisbon (PT)
2022 Delfina Foundation, London (UK)
2019 Rupert, Vilnius (LT)
2018 KulturKontakt Austria, Vienna (AT)
2016 Burrard Arts Foundation, Vancouver (CA)
AWARDS
2025 Taoyuan International Art Award, Finalist
2019 Sobey Art Award Residency Program, Delfina Foundation residency award
2019 Sobey Art Award, Longlist (Ontario)
2016 Canada Council for the Arts, Joseph S. Stauffer Prize in Visual Arts
2014 Hnatyshyn Foundation, Charles Pachter Prize for Emerging Artists
2014 Contemporary Art Society of Vancouver, Emerging Artist's Prize, Shortlist
GRANTS
2024 Toronto Arts Council, Visual Artists Program: Mid-Career and Established
2024 Canada Council for the Arts, Arts Abroad: Residencies
2023 Toronto Arts Council, Visual Artists Program: Mid-Career and Established
2023 Ontario Arts Council, Visual Artists Creation Projects: Mid-Career
2023 Canada Council for the Arts, Explore and Create: Research and Creation Project Grant
2022 Toronto Arts Council, Visual Artists Program: Mid-Career and Established
2022 Canada Council for the Arts, Explore and Create: Research and Creation Project Grant
2021 Ontario Arts Council, Visual Artists Creation Projects: Mid-Career
2021 Canada Council for the Arts, Explore and Create: Research and Creation Project Grant
2021 Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance
2020 Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance
2020 SAHA Association, Project Support, A Minaret for the General's Wife
2020 Toronto Arts Council, Visual Artists Program: Mid-Career and Established
2020 Canada Council for the Arts, Explore and Create: Research and Creation Project Grant
2019 Canada Council for the Arts, Arts Abroad: Travel
2019 Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance
2019 Ontario Arts Council, Visual Artists Creation Projects: Mid-Career
2019 Canada Council for the Arts, Explore and Create: Research and Creation Project Grant
2018 Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance
2018 Canada Council for the Arts, Arts Abroad: Residencies
2018 Canada Council for the Arts, Explore and Create: Research and Creation Project Grant
2017 Canada Council for the Arts, Explore and Create: Concept to Realization Project Grant
2017 Toronto Arts Council, Visual Artists Program: Emerging
2017 Ontario Arts Council, Visual Artists Creation Projects: Emerging
2017 SAHA Association, Project Support, The Curtain Sweeps Down
2016 Canada Council for the Arts, Project Grants to Visual Artists
2015 BC Arts Council, Project Assistance for Visual Artists
2014 BC Arts Council, Project Assistance for Visual Artists
2012-2014 Royal Institute of Art, Stockholm, Artistic Research Grant - "Investigations on Artistic Subjectivity" in collaboration with Meriç Algün Ringborg
2009-2010 Emily Carr University, Vancouver, Project Research Fund
2003-2007 Sabanci University, Istanbul, Honour Scholarship (Full tuition waiver and monthly stipend, awarded for merit)
EXHIBITION CATALOGUES
Rumi, Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, 2023. Text by Michael Chagnon.
The Dream of the Library, Museum für Gegenwartskunst Siegen, 2019. Text by Ines Rüttinger.
Doublethink, Doublevision, Pera Museum, Istanbul, 2017. Text by Alistair Hicks.
Freundschaftsspiel, Museum für Neue Kunst, Freiburg, 2016. Editors: Didem Yazıcı and Christine Litz.
Reunion, Sakıp Sabancı Museum, Istanbul, 2015. Text by Övül Durmuşoğlu.
Hot Spot Istanbul, Haus Konstruktiv, Zurich, 2013. Published by JRP-Ringier. Text by Dorothea Strauss.
Envy, Enmity, Embarrassment, ARTER, Istanbul, 2013. Text by Adnan Yıldız.
Signs Taken in Wonder, MAK, Vienna, 2013. Published by Hatje-Cantz. Editors: Simon Rees and Bärbel Vischer.
PUBLICATIONS AND EXHIBITION TEXTS
Georgis, Dina. Double Binds. Exhibition response text for Demagogues: 5, Blackwood Gallery, 2020.
Halajian, Suzy. Between Stage and Proposition. Exhibition text for A Minaret for the General's Wife, Mercer Union, 2020.
Ross, Jacquelyn Zong-Li. The Perfect Crime. Exhibition text for Vicissitudes: Act Three, Mercer Union, 2020.
Bruneau, Jaclyn. Two Women. Exhibition text for Vicissitudes: Act Two, Mercer Union, 2019.
Durmuşoğlu, Övül Ö. The Curtain Sweeps Down. Exhibition text for The Curtain Sweeps Down, VOX Centre de l'image contemporaine, 2018.
Hicks, Alistair. The Global Art Compass: New Directions in 21st Century Art. YKY, 2015.
Phillips, Kimberly. Six Ways to Speak of Distance. Exhibition text for Far Away So Close: Part 1, Access Gallery, 2014.
Johnson, Lewis ed. Mobility and Fantasy in Visual Culture. Routledge, 2014.
Altındere, Halil and Evren, Süreyya. Çocuklar için Türkiye Güncel Sanatı. YKY, 2013.
Collins, Allison. Escape From Biography. Exhibition text for Tide, Republic Gallery, 2013.
Birch, Jesse. Properties. Exhibition text for Properties at Western Front, 2013.
McBay, Brian. Say It Out Loud. Exhibition text for What A Drag, 221A, 2012
Pauker, Magnolia. Playfulness as a Strategy: Inter-view with Erdem Taşdelen. 221A, 2012
SELECTED REVIEWS AND PRESS
Hafiz Ramji, Shazia. Rumi Beyond Rumi. Galleries West, September 2023.
Taylor, Kate. Museum reclaims Rumi from the mindfulness set. The Globe and Mail, 1 June 2023.
Niğbolu, Seda. Evrensel sembollerden kişisel anlatılara. Argonotlar, November 2022.
Genç, Kaya. Critics' Picks: Erdem Taşdelen. Artforum.com, October 2022.
Brereton, William. The Characters: Act III — Erdem Taşdelen. C Magazine, August 2022.
Whaley-Kalaora, Yasmine. Locating Again: Erdem Taşdelen’s A Minaret for the General’s Wife. ReIssue, July 2022.
Turner, Michael. A Minaret for the General’s Wife. Preview, June-August 2022.
Abdel Nabi, Nabila. In Conversation with Erdem Taşdelen. Platform, Delfina Foundation, May 2022.
Kong, Yani. A Minaret for the General’s Wife. Galleries West, May 2022.
Woodend, Dorothy. That Feeling of a Waking Dream. The Tyee, May 2022.
Sanader, Daniella. Critics' Picks: Erdem Taşdelen. Artforum.com, December 2020.
Collins, Allison. Demagogues: 4. C Magazine, Spring 2020.
Sandals, Leah. New Project Turns Vancouver Buses Into Moving Public Art. Canadian Art Online, 9 January 2019.
Hasboyacı, Büşra. Erdem Taşdelen ve Algı Perspektifleri. Artam Global, September 2018.
Cuguoğlu, Naz. Doublethink: Double Vision. ArtAsiaPacific.com, July 2017.
Özgüven, Fatih. Çiftdüşün, Çiftgörü. XOXO, June 2017.
Priegert, Portia. Quantifying the Emotional Self. Galleries West, 13 January 2017.
Hicks, Alistair. Turkish contemporary art at the Museum für Neue Kunst, Freiburg. Financial Times, 10 August 2016.
Randolph, Jeanne. Review: A Putting Down of Roots: 40 Years of CV2. C Magazine, Spring 2016.
Best, Alexandra. In Conversation with Erdem Taşdelen. Burrard Arts Foundation blog, 22 January 2016.
Berberoğlu, Alev. İnadına Queer! ArtfulLiving.com.tr, 4 January 2016.
McFadden, Kegan. A Putting Down of Roots. CV2: The Canadian Journal of Poetry and Critical Writing, Fall 2015.
Bruneau, Jaclyn. Artistic Subjectivity: In Conversation with Erdem Taşdelen. Canadian Art Online, 30 June 2015.
Golkar, Babak. Notes on Erdem Taşdelen's A Petition of the Left Hand. The Capilano Review, February 2015 (3.25).
Şenova, Başak. Review: A Petition of the Left Hand, Flash Art Online, November 2014.
Elçi, Yasemin. Sol Elinizin Bir Ricası Olacak, Milliyet Sanat, November 2014.
Şaşmazer, Nilüfer. Bu Eserlerin Hepsi Puzzle’ın Parçaları, Istanbul Art News, October 2014.
Özgüven, Fatih. Boşlukta Köprüler Kurmak. Radikal, 28 November 2013.
Nguyen, Kim. Know Better, No Better. MUSE (Canadian Museums Association), September-October 2013.
Sinkewicz, Alison. Truth or Dare: Artist Erdem Taşdelen. MonteCristoMagazine.com, 3 September 2013.
Sandals, Leah. Q&A: Carson Chan on Denver's Biennial & Urban Destinies. CanadianArt.com, 22 July 2013.
Masters, H.G, Envy, Enmity, Embarrassment. ArtAsiaPacific, May-June 2013.
Ünsal, Merve. Haset, Husumet, Rezalet. ArtfulLiving.com.tr, March 2013.
Yıldız, Adnan. İzleyicinin Varlığı. Art Unlimited, March 2013.
Masters, H.G., Emotional Histories. ArtAsiaPacific.com, February 2013
Sutton, Kate. Critics' Picks: Erdem Taşdelen. Artforum.com, February 2013.
Öztürk, Mehtap. Conversation: Erdem Taşdelen and Mehtap Öztürk. M-est.org, February 2013.
Özgüven, Fatih. Eski itirazlar yeni itiraflar. Radikal, 3 February 2013.
Erciyes, Cem. Sakın izlemeyin, katılın! Radikal, 1 February 2013.
Uncu, Erman Ata. Hasetin farklı cepheleri. Radikal, 24 January 2013.
Yıldız, Adnan. Sevgilini/Kahramanını hayal etmek. Taraf, 31 July 2012.
PUBLISHED PROJECTS AND WRITING
Margins. The Capilano Review, Summer 2022 (3.47).
Demagogues: 4. Artist project for C Magazine, Spring 2020.
Love is.... Glänta, March-April 2018.
The Artist-Curator Relationship. C Magazine, Autumn 2018.
The Curtain Sweeps Down. Canadian Art, Summer 2018.
The Curtain Sweeps Down. Self-published artist book, Toronto, 2018. Edition: 125.
Quantified Self. Canadian Art, Winter 2017.
Brief Jubilation. Canadian Art Online, 4 November 2015.
Investigations on Artistic Subjectivity. Editors: Erdem Taşdelen and Meriç Algün Ringborg. Published by Antrepo AB, Stockholm, 2015. Edition: 250.
All the Decisive Blows. Self-published artist book, Istanbul, 2014. Edition: 500.
Postscript 50: On Studio Work by Paul Mpagi Sepuya. Artspeak, Vancouver, 2013.
Dear,. Artist book published by NON. Istanbul, 2013. Edition: 1000.
Convictions. Artist book published by 221A, Vancouver, 2012. Edition: 100.
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
Who's in Town? Artist talk, Salt, Istanbul (TR), May 2024
Art NOW, Virtual artist talk, University of Lethbridge (CA), February 2024
Bletcher Hour, Reading group, Southern Alberta Art Gallery (CA), February 2024
Fan Out, SAVAC, Toronto (CA), October 2023
Seeing Through Translations, Massey College Talk Series, Aga Khan Museum, Toronto (CA), June 2023
Virtual artist talk, Richmond Public Library, Richmond (CA), July 2022
Artist talk, Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond (CA), April 2022
Virtual artist talk, The Power Plant (members only), Toronto (CA), March 2021
Virtual artist talk, Toronto Friends of the Visual Arts, Toronto (CA), February 2021
Transmissions: 2, Podcast with Dina Georgis, Blackwood Gallery, Mississauga (CA), December 2020
Marathon Screenings, Los Angeles (USA), March 2020 – Curated by Asha Bukojemsky
Artist talk, Gordon Snelgrove Gallery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon (CA), February 2020
Artist talk, Kėdainiai Regional Museum Multicultural Centre (organized by Rupert), Kėdainiai (LT), June 2019
Artist talk, Contemporary Art Gallery (in partnership with TransLink BC), Vancouver (CA), April 2019
In Studio, Mercer Union, Toronto (CA), February 2019
Artist talk, Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien, Vienna (AT), November 2018
Book launch, The Curtain Sweeps Down, Art Metropole, Toronto (CA), May 2018
Artist talk, VOX Centre de l'image contemporaine, Montreal (CA), March 2018
Artist talk, Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver (CA), January 2017
What Now, Performance at First Thursdays, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto (CA), December 2016
Artist talk, Burrard Arts Foundation, Vancouver (CA), March 2016
A Putting Down of Roots, Panel discussion, University of Winnipeg (CA), September 2015
Nereden Geldik, Nerelere Gideceğiz? Panel discussion, Sakıp Sabancı Museum, Istanbul (TR), April 2015
Artist talk, Contemporary Art Society of Vancouver (CA), November 2014
The Servitude of the Left Hand, Lecture performance, ArtInternational, Istanbul (TR), September 2014
Investigations on Artistic Subjectivity, Feedback talk, Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver (CA), December 2013
Let's Talk About Love (and Work), Reading salon at Access Gallery, Vancouver (CA), August 2013 – Curated by Gabrielle Moser
A Conversation About Art and Unrequited Love (with Allison Collins), Performance at SFU World Art Centre, Vancouver (CA), November 2012
Artist talk, 221A, Vancouver (CA), June 2012
EDUCATION
MAA - Master of Applied Arts in Visual Arts, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Vancouver, 2010
BA - Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts & Communication Design, Sabancı University, Istanbul, 2007
TEACHING
Sessional Faculty
University of Toronto, Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design: Visual Studies
VIS 322: The Constructed Image, Winter 2024, Winter 2023, Fall 2021, Winter 2021, Winter 2020, Winter 2019
Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Vancouver
HUMN 311: Visual Art Seminar: Queer Theory + Culture, Fall 2015, Fall 2014, Spring 2014, Fall 2012, Fall 2011
SOCS 201: Introduction to Cultural Theory, Spring 2014
FNDT 108: Creative Processes, Fall 2009
Seminar Leader
Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Vancouver
SOCS 201: Introduction to Cultural Theory, Spring 2013, Fall 2012, Spring 2012, Fall 2011, Fall 2010
AHIS 333: Interdisciplinary Forums, Summer 2012, Spring 2012, Spring 2011, Fall 2010, Spring 2009
AHIS 103: Introduction to Visual Culture, Spring 2011
Visiting Artist
Emily Carr University of Art + Design, MFA program, January 2017
Arts Umbrella, Vancouver, Buschlen Mowatt Teen Scholarship Program, February 2014
Contemporary Art Gallery and Emily Carr University, Y-CAG youth program leader, 2013
Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Summer Institute for Teens: Visual Culture and Core Studio, Summer 2013