Dilera Topaloglu

Dilera Topaloglu was born in Istanbul and has developed a multidisciplinary artistic background shaped by international education and diverse creative practices.

In 2001, she moved to Miami, where she completed her studies in Hospitality Management in 2003. While pursuing a master’s degree in International Trade at Nova University in 2004, her growing interest in visual expression led her to expand her artistic path. This transition marked a decisive shift toward the arts.

In 2006, she enrolled in the Fine Arts program at Barry University, focusing on painting and visual studies. Seeking to further explore materiality and form, she continued her education in Accessory and Jewelry Design at the University of Miami in 2007. These years in Miami played a crucial role in shaping her interdisciplinary approach, combining structure, craftsmanship and expressive freedom.

After returning to Turkey, Topaloglu obtained her Diamond Expertise certification in 2008. Alongside this, she strengthened her foundation in drawing and form, earning Mastery and Apprenticeship certificates, and worked professionally as a tattoo artist between 2009 and 2014. This period significantly influenced her sensitivity to line, gesture and the relationship between body, surface and expression.

Throughout her artistic journey, she has worked with some of Turkey’s leading artists, including Günal Salt (drawing studies, 2009–2011), İrfan Önürmen (2015), and Mustafa Özel, with whom she has been working since 2016. These collaborations contributed to the deepening of her painterly language and conceptual approach.

Topaloglu has participated in numerous national and international exhibitions, presenting her work at venues such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum, and exhibiting in cities including Thessaloniki, Kyiv, Varna and Burgas. As a globally oriented artist, she continues to expand her artistic presence, aiming to engage with new countries, cultures and exhibition platforms.

Her practice today is rooted in abstract expressionism, navigating the space between abstraction and figuration through an intuitive, emotionally driven process. Working primarily with acrylic, oil, ceramics,collage and assemblage, she transforms fleeting emotional states into layered, vibrant compositions that reflect her ongoing exploration of color, movement and personal expression.