When I realised that there is no perfect place, I decided to create a dream world myself. 

I try to design a world where fears and worries do not exist. My sculptures suggest a playful and colourful way to banish negativity and regain happiness. 

My works are like a charm; they present the idea of guardianship, the original intent of sculpture and painting in many cultures. Indigenous people fought their fears with magic; I fight my fears with “playfulness”. 

Most of my sculptures are moving sculptures. When the sculptures move, they come to life. They tear the viewer away from the real world and invite them to the playful space that I try to create.

My artworks act to protect against evils of the world, creating a space where worries and fears do not exist; 

It is an imaginary world of its own.

Cansu Guvenkaya completed her bachelors at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University at the beginning of 2016 with a first place in the sculpture department and achieved the Sakip Sabanci Foundation Art Awards. During her bachelors Guvenkaya attended Weissensee Kunsthochschule in Berlin as an Erasmus exchange student in 2013. Guvenkaya completed her masters in 2019 in her specialised field of sculpture work at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. Guvenkaya had her second solo exhibition 'Play!' at Ferda Art Platform in 2023 and her first solo exhibition 'Protectors' at Imoga Art Space in January 2020. Guvenkaya has exhibited in many important exhibitions such as 2025 Wales Contemporary, 2023 John Byrne Award, 2022 and 2021 Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition, 2022 Royal Academy, 2021 Saatchi Gallery London, 2019 Base İstanbul, 2018 Mamut Art Project. Currently Guvenkaya continues creating artworks in her studio in London.

Education

2016-2019 Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Sculpture Department, Master Degree, Istanbul, Turkey

2013-2013 Weissensee Kunsthochschule Berlin, Erasmus Exchange Student, Berlin, Germany

2009-2016 Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Sculpture Department, Bachelor Degree, Istanbul, Turkey

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Exhibitions

2025 Wales Contemporary, Garrison Chapel Chelsea, London and Waterfront Gallery, Wales, United Kingdom

2024 MK Gallery, MK Calling 2024, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom 

2023 "Play!", Solo Exhibition, Ferda Art Platform, Istanbul, Turkey

2023 John Byrne Award, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

2022 Royal Academy of Arts, London, United Kingdom

2022 Royal Scottish Academy, 196th Annual Exhibition, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

2021 Saatchi Gallery London, London, United Kingdom

2021 Royal Scottish Academy, 195th Annual Exhibition, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

2020 "Protectors", Solo Exhibition, Imoga Art Space, Istanbul, Turkey 

2019 Base Istanbul 2019, Istanbul, Turkey

2019 The Brain Project, Baycrest Foundation, Toronto, Canada

2018 Elgiz Museum 10th Teracce Exhibition, Istanbul, Turkey

2018 Mamut Art Project 2018, Istanbul, Turkey

2017 Premio Combat 2017 Prize, Sculpture Show, Italy

2016 Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Graduation Sculpture Department 1st place Sakip Sabanci Art Awards, Istanbul, Turkey