IN THIS SECTION
As the Painting Department of Balıkesir University Faculty of Fine Arts, we are part of a dynamic educational and creative environment where visual thinking is transformed into artistic production, aesthetic sensitivity is integrated with individual forms of expression, and creativity is enriched through contemporary art practices.
Today, painting is no longer merely a field of aesthetic representation; it continues to serve as a powerful language of expression that expands the ways individuals articulate themselves, questions ideas, and makes social realities visible. In this context, our department aims not only to equip students with technical skills but also to cultivate individuals who can think critically, develop conceptual depth, and use artistic production as a conscious means of expression.
Within today’s multilayered cultural and artistic landscape, painting is a rich field of production that evolves through interaction with different disciplines and combines traditional techniques with contemporary forms of expression. The primary objective of our department is to educate artists who preserve the historical heritage and theoretical foundations of painting while integrating them with contemporary artistic approaches and experimental modes of production; artists who can appreciate local cultural values while engaging with the universal language of art. Accordingly, our foremost goal is to support the development of students not only as practitioners but also as individuals who research, question, interpret, and create original artistic works.
Our studio-based educational model enables students to learn through experience as they transform ideas into form. Throughout this process, students gain both technical and intellectual competence in various areas such as drawing, figure studies, composition, color, space, conceptual art, contemporary art practices, and experimental methods of artistic production. Our curriculum is continuously updated in line with current developments in the art world, ensuring that students become familiar with new media, interdisciplinary practices, and diverse modes of contemporary artistic expression.
Our department operates with the understanding that art education extends beyond the studio environment. Therefore, we actively encourage students to participate in national and international exhibitions, biennials, workshops, and projects, thereby supporting their artistic development. Through exhibitions and events, students have the opportunity to present their work to diverse audiences and establish an active presence within the broader art community.
Internationalization constitutes an important component of our academic vision. Through Erasmus and similar exchange programs, we offer students opportunities to experience different cultures, engage with diverse artistic approaches, and develop a global perspective. Furthermore, international exhibitions, collaborative projects, and academic events organized within our department contribute to students’ interaction with the global art environment.
Bringing together the long-established academic tradition of Balıkesir University with a contemporary understanding of art, our Painting Department aims to educate future artists through an educational approach that supports original thinking, encourages creative production, and enhances individual modes of expression. Our goal is not only to ensure that students become technically proficient but also to guide them in becoming artists who possess a critical perspective, value cultural heritage, and understand the transformative power of art.
We invite all aspiring artists who wish to transform their dreams into artistic production, their ideas into original forms of expression, and their creativity into compelling visual narratives to become part of the productive and inspiring educational environment of our Painting Department.
Prof. Dr. Duygu Sabancılar Iştın
