Devrim Erbil

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Devrim Erbil was born in Uşak in 1937.

He was enrolled in the painting department of the State Academy of Fine Arts in İstanbul in 1955. He studied first in the academy`s Gallery section under Halil Dikmen and later in the studio of Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu.

In 1959 he founded the Soyutçu 7`ler ("Seven abstractionists") group.
After graduating from the academy`s painting department he joined academy (in 1962) as a teaching assistant, undertaking duties in the studios of Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu, Cemal Tollu and Cevat Dereli.

In 1963 he founded the Mavi ("Blue") group in association with Tülay Tura, Altan Gürman, Adnan Çoker and Sarkis.

In 1965 Mr Erbil was awarded and art scholarship by the Spanish government and began studying in Madrid and Barcelona. He continued his studies in Paris and London. In 1968 he was elected "young artist of the year" in Turkey.

In 1969 Mr Erbil became president of the Turkish Association of Contemporary Artists. He became an associate professor at the academy in 1970. In 1975 he served as president of the Association of Visual Artists.

Mr Erbil was appointed director of the İstanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture in 1979, a position that he occupied for three and a half years. In 1981 he became a full professor at the academy and in 1985, chairman of the Department of Painting of Mimar Sinan University.
1988 and to that of assistant dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Mimar Sinan University in 1990.
He was awarded the title "State Artist" in 1991.

Mr Erbil`s works have been shown frequently in joint exhibitions in Turkey and abroad.
His works have also been displayed in exhibitions of Turkish art conducted in other countries and has served as commissioner for such shows held in Alexendria, Belgrade, Sofia and Kuwait.
He has delivered lectures and published articles on the subject of art.