HUSEYIN OVAYOLU

Huseyin Ovayolu was born in Gaziantep, Turkiye. (b. 1986) He studied Photography and Video at Istanbul Bilgi University on a full scholarship. He was among the first participants of the Documentary Photography School organized by the Photography Foundation. Through photography, he seeks to narrate personal histories and collective memory.

His artistic practice is rooted in geographies where land, conflict, and identity are deeply intertwined. He primarily produces work in the Middle East and Eastern countries, focusing on how place shapes people’s lives, memories, and social fabric. Ovayolu is an artist who conveys personal stories and collective memory through the language of photography.

He has been living in London, UK since 2022.

Exhibitions

“Syria” (Solo)

2006 - Sanko Art Gallery Gaziantep, Turkiye

“Görmez’den Gelinenler” (Solo)

2009 - Sanko Art Gallery Gaziantep, Turkiye

2009 - Photography Art Association, Ankara, Turkiye

2010 - Adana Photography Association, Adana, Turkiye

2011 - Mersin Photography Association, Mersin, Turkiye

“Buluşma” (Group)

2016 - Turkiye Photography Foundation & Galata Fotoğrafhanesi, Istanbul, Turkiye

2019 - Çankaya Art Centre, Ankara, Turkiye

“Singularity” (Group)

2024 - HELLERAU Portrait Award Exhibition, Dresden, Germany

“Selfhood” (Group)

2025 - Versus Arts Gallery, London, UK

Awards & Recognitions

2025

• ⁠Grand Prize of the Bergger Analog Photo Prize 2025

2024

• Sicily Photo Masterclass Alumni Scholarship Fund – Recipient
• HELLERAU Portrait Award – Third Place Prize
• Prix Pictet Storm – Nominee
• Star Photobook Dummy Award – Nominee
• Work Show Grow Artist Residency, Stamford, UK – Selected Artist
• Photo Meet London 2024 – Bursary Recipient
• Athens Photo Festival Photobook Dummy Award – Shortlisted
• The Photography Foundation Awards – Shortlisted
• OD Photo Prize 2024 – Longlisted
• Making Photobook Webinar by Magnum Photos – Bursary Recipient
• The Photographers’ Gallery (TPG) Portfolio Reviews – Bursary Recipient