EDUCATION
•PhD candidate at School of Architecture & Urbanism, Carleton Uni, Ottawa, Canada 2020–Present
•MA in Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design, Sabancı Uni, Istanbul, Turkey
& Photography (exchange study), Aalto Uni, Helsinki, Finland 2011–2014
•Certificate Program in Documentary Photography, Nordens Fotoskola, Bålsta, Sweden 2003–2004
•BSc in Civil Engineering, Yıldız Tech Uni, Istanbul, Turkey 1997–2003
•BSc in Urban and Regional Planning, Istanbul Tech Uni, Istanbul, Turkey (not completed) 1996–1997
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS & TEACHING EXPERIENCE
•Contract Instructor, Carleton School of Architecture and Urbanism: 2022–2023
•Teaching assistant, Carleton School of Architecture and Urbanism: 2021–Present
•Part-time lecturer, Bilgi University 2016–2018
•Part-time lecturer, Bahçeşehir University 2016–2017
•Teaching assistant, Sabancı University, Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design 2011–2013
PROFESSIONAL & CURATORIAL & RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
•Curator, Give Me Shelter, SAW Gallery, Ottawa, Canada 2025
•Research assistant at ““Mobility Austerity” in Contemporary Havana” and “We Love Your Home’: Canadian Residential Property Markets” projects 2024–Present
•Mentor, SaDe (Artist Support Fund), Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) 2024–2025
•Research team lead at “Urban Futures” project. 2022–2023
•Mentor, Cultural & Artistic Responses to the Environmental Crisis (CAREC) Mentorship program, Prince Claus Fund together with the Goethe-Institut 2022–2023
•Freelance Architectural & Editorial photographer 2004–2015
•Photography editor & Photojournalist, Radikal Newspaper 2004–2006
•Assistant curator at the photography gallery, Istanbul Museum of Modern Art 2003–2004
GRANTS and SCHOLARSHIPS
•Ontario Graduate scholarship, 2022–2023
•Carleton Graduate Entrance Scholarship, 2020–2021
•Spaces of Culture Project Grant, 2019
•Istanbul Culture and Arts Foundation Grant, Venice Architecture Biennale Pavilion of Turkey, 2014
•SAHA Association Project Grant. 2013
•Sabancı University Graduate Student Fellowship, 2011–2013
•Swedish Institute Artist Support Program Grant, Summer 2004
AWARDS and NOMINATIONS (SELECTED)
•Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2017 – Nominee
•FUAM Istanbul Photobook Festival Best Book Award 2016
•Akbank Contemporary Artists Prize 2013 – Shortlisted
•Prix Pictet 2010 & 2012 – Nominee
•FullArt Prize 2012 – Shortlisted
•Young Talents in Turkish Photography, Geniş Açı photography magazine, 2004
PERSONAL EXHIBITIONS (SELECTED)
•Towards the City, MüzeGazhane, Istanbul, Turkey, 2021–2022
•HydroLab Attica, Geometries, Athens, Greece, 2018
•HydroLab Mesopotamia, Mardin Biennial, Mardin, Turkey, 2018
•HydroLab Cappadocia, Cappadox, Nevşehir, Turkey, 2017
•Between Two Seas, Connectivities, MuCEM (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations), Marseille, France, 2017
•Tumulus, Helsinki Photography Biennial, Finnish Museum of Photography, Helsinki, Finland, 2014
•Agora, Pilot Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey, 2015
•Tarzan Kemal Trail, Sinopale, Sinop, Turkey, 2014
•Between Two Seas, 13th Istanbul Biennial, Istanbul, Turkey, 2013
•Shell, Elipsis Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey, 2013
•Ex:change, Istanbul-Marseille: the industrial heritage, ÇEKÜL, Istanbul, Turkey, 2011
•Habitat; Rencontres de la Jeune Photographie Internationale, Niort, France, 2010; Thessaloniki Photo Biennale, Thessaloniki, Greece 2010; SCOOP Festival, Angers, France, 2009; Elipsis Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey, 2009; Promenades Photographiques, Vendome, France; 2009
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (SELECTED)
•Grounded, Biennale Architettura, Pavilion of Turkey, Venice, Italy, 2025
•In Search for the Pluriverse, Het Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam, Netherlands 2022
•Past, Present, Istanbul, Sabanci University Sakıp Sabancı Museum, Istanbul, Turkey, 2021
•Ubiquitous Surfaces, Seager gallery, London, UK, 2019
•There was a world, once, you punk, Blok Art Space, Istanbul, Turkey, 2016
•Wider den Grautönen [Inverse Grayscale], Pasinger Fabrik, Munich, Germany, 2016
•A Particular Scenario, scenario I, Corridor Project Space, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2016
•Alien Territory, Medphoto, Crete, Greece, 2016
•Habitat, Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, Istanbul, Turkey, 2016
•Istanbul: Passion, Joy, Fury, MAXXI National Museum of 21st Century Art, Rome, Italy, 2015
•Every Inclusion is an Exclusion of Other Possibilities, SALT Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey, 2015
•Agora, Biennale Architettura, Pavilion of Turkey, Venice, Italy, 2014
•Growing Up in a Growing Metropolis, Studio-X, Istanbul, Turkey, 2014
•Akbank Contemporary Artists Prize 2013, Akbank Sanat, Istanbul, Turkey, 2012
•Tourist Information Rotterdam-Istanbul, Perplekcity, 311artworks, Istanbul, Turkey, 2012
•Variations, Photomed, Sanary-Sur-Mer, France, 2011
•Carte blanche, Le Moulin du Roc, Niort, France, 2010
•Not a Lens but a Prism: European Tracks on Photography, Eugenio de Almeida Forum, Evora, Portugal, 2010
•Neighbourhood, Tuzla, Kartal and Eyüp Art Centers, Istanbul, Turkey, 2009
•Editions I, Elipsis Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey, 2009
•Narratives From the Private, Malmö Museum, Malmö, Sweden, 2008
•Be a realist, demand the impossible!, Karşı Sanat, Istanbul, Turkey, 2007
•Young Photography from Turkey, ROSPHOTO The State Russian Museum and Exhibition Centre ROSPHOTO, St. Petersburg, Russia, 2006
•Young Talents in Turkish Photography v.02, Istanbul Photography Center, Istanbul, Turkey, 2004; and K2 Art Gallery, Izmir, Turkey, 2004
FILMS & DOCUMENTARIES
•Two Feet and Two Tires on Between Two Seas, 2021 (21’ 48”)
•Between Two Seas, 2021, (28’ 57”)
•A Wall of Water, 2018, (5’ 48’’)
•Küçükyalı Arkeopark, 2015, (5’ 02’’)
•In Between, 2012, (6’ 55’’)
BOOKS and CATALOGS (SELECTED)
•Between Two Seas, guide/map, 2022 (3rd edition)
•Agora #04, artist book, RecCollective, 2017
•Tumulus, Helsinki Photography Biennial publication, 2014
•Ex:change, Istanbul–Marseille: the industrial heritage, project book, ÇEKUL Publications, 2011
PUBLICATIONS
•Taycan, S., & Kalivis, G. (2026, February 10). Image-Maker in Residence: Critical Urban Trail-Making: Walking through infrastructural, environmental and political change [Online]. The Sociological Review Magazine.
•“Where Art Meets Life,” in. Botha T., Salvarita R., Nivón D. (eds.) Ecosystems of Tomorrow, Prince Claus Fund and Goethe-Institut, 2025: 13-15.
•“Shell,” in. Erdem C., Kalfa B., Cankara M. (eds.) Grounded, IKSV and ListLab, 2025: 44-47.
•“Hydrolab,” in Burrows, D., and Cezar, A. (eds.) Politics of Food, Delfina Foundation and Sternberg Press, 2020: 106–109.
•“Between Two Seas,” Genç F. (eds.) Saha, 2, Citizens’ Assembly-Turkey, January 2019: 51–56.
INVITED TALKS, WORKSHOPS & LECTURES (SELECTED)
•“Between Two Seas” Global Cities and Socially Engaged Arts Initiative, University of Regina, April 2025
•"Between Two Seas," Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung and the Digital Art Center. (online), March 2023.
•“Between Two Seas,” Cultural and Artistic Responses to Environmental Change (CAREC) Mentorship program, Prince Claus Fund and Goethe-Institut, Istanbul, Turkey, 2022
•“Walking near the Seas,” Netherlands Institute in Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey, 2021
•“City in Transformation: Diyarbakır”, Şehre BAK, Diyarbakır, Turkey, 2019
•“Artist Talk: Not/Seeing the City,” SALT Galata, Istanbul, Turkey, 2019
•“Between Two Seas,” Digestion Programme – WATER, 16th Istanbul Biennial, Turkey, 2019
•“The Art of Walking,” A-Z night #9, Z33, Hasselt, Belgium, 2019
•"Between Two Seas,” Earth School at Arter with Royal Institute of Art, Istanbul Design Biennial, 2018
•“HydroLab Bangalore”, Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore, India, 2017
•“Searching for water: HydroLab Reykyavik”, Iceland Academy of the Arts, 2017
•“Walking the City”, Leeds College of Art, Leeds, UK, 2017
•“Between Two Seas,” École nationale supérieure d'architecture Paris-Malaquais, 2015
•“Between Two Seas,” Sao Paulo Biennial, 2014
•“What can we see in Istanbul's industrial heritage?” SALT Beyoğlu, Istanbul, 2010
•“Personal Photography“, Neue Schule für Fotografie, Berlin, 2009
ARTIST RESIDENCES
•Delfina Foundation, The Politics of Food program, London, SAHA Grant, 2016
•Cité International des Arts, Paris, IKSV Grant, 2015
•Rencontres de la Jeune, Photographie Internationale, Niort, France, 2010
•“Amongst Neighbours” Project, Berlin, Germany, 2009
WORKS in COLLECTIONS
•Thessaloniki Photography Museum, Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, Borusan Contemporary Museum, various private collections