Turkish artist opens 3D art exhibition in US blending culture and social themes

Exhibition features tributes to Turkish heritage, global issues, and Palestine, marking Kasap’s transition from photography to painting

MORRISTOWN, United States (MNTV) — Renowned Turkish artist Koray Kasap has launched a new 3D art exhibition in Morristown, New Jersey, showcasing a collection of mixed-media works inspired by Turkish culture and contemporary global issues.

Kasap, best known for his influential photography work in the 1990s, especially for album covers, drew attention from both Turkish and American audiences at the open-air gallery with his tactile and thematically rich paintings.

A graduate of the Photography Department at Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts, Kasap said during the opening that he was now focusing on painting, a discipline he views as both a divine calling and a familial legacy. 

“I felt it was time to turn toward painting,” he said, crediting his shift to the evolving ubiquity of photography and the influence of his late father.

The artist emphasized that painting, for him, is not about recognition but responsibility. “I consider it a kind of zakat,” he said, referring to the Islamic concept of charitable giving.

This marks Kasap’s first painting exhibition, although he previously held a photography exhibition in Brooklyn in 2015, which was inaugurated by now-New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Kasap’s latest works explore diverse subjects using a 3D art technique that merges everyday objects with paint. 

The exhibition featured standout pieces such as Nefsini Terbiye Eden Derviş (“The Dervish Who Trains His Soul”), Ayasofya (“Hagia Sophia”), and Filistinli Anne (“Palestinian Mother”).

In Palestinian Mother, Kasap portrayed a mother sheltering her children under a keffiyeh, a work that resonated strongly with visitors. “We couldn’t do much for Palestine. It pains us,” Kasap said. “At least I wanted to dedicate a drawing to Palestine in my selection.”

The painting drew praise from prominent Turkish jewelry designer Sevan Bıçakçı, who contacted Kasap personally to request the piece. Kasap later announced that he would donate the painting’s proceeds to Palestinian children.

Kasap’s use of unconventional materials such as charcoal and coffee in place of commercial paints created unique textures and a natural finish. 

His collection also included a piece titled Boxer, inspired by the legendary athlete Muhammad Ali, and a series of horse paintings, which the artist considers deeply symbolic in human history.

Through his bold transition from photography to fine art, Koray Kasap is offering a new lens on identity, resilience, and the shared human experience—one painted not only with color but with meaning.