ABOUT

Emre Karaoglu, a contemporary figurative artist from Turkey now based in New Orleans, uses oil, pastel & charcoal portraits to capture the profound layers of human experience within everyday life.

Emre's art practice positions him as both an observer and archivist of modern culture, bearing witness to the lives and emotions of his subjects. For Emre, painting the human form offers a doorway into exploring the depth and complexity of the struggles woven into daily existence.

Emre was born in 1992 in Istanbul, Turkey. In 2015, Emre studied at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics in Hungary. Emre graduated in 2016 from Marmara University in Econometrics. He studied at Marmara University, Faculty of Fine Arts between 2016 and 2020 in Turkey. He moved to New Orleans, U.S. from Istanbul, Turkey in 2021.

Emre’s painting was selected for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition 2024, at the Mall Galleries, London, UK. Three of Emre’s artworks are in the permanent ‘How You Doin’, New Orleans?’ & "Art of the Black Experience" collection of the City of New Orleans. His artworks were selected as a part of "the State of the Art: Record Zine Project" at the LSU Museum of Art, Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge in 2022. His paintings were selected for the 16th and 17th Annual Louisiana Fine Arts Showcase at the President's residence at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond in 2023 and 2024. Emre’s artworks were selected for the New Orleans Art Association (NOAA) 2023 and 2024 National Show and received the Merit Award

Recent solo shows include “Witness”, Second Story Gallery, New Orleans Healing Center, and “Faces Around Us” 2023, Sullivan Gallery, New Orleans. Emre is the New Orleans Photo Alliance Exhibition Chair and Board Member. He belongs to the artist collective, “Renegade” and “Second Story Gallery,” in New Orleans. Since Emre immigrated to New Orleans, he has participated in group exhibitions at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, Ashé Cultural Arts Center, the LSU Museum of Art, the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, Southeastern Louisiana University, Gryder Gallery, LeMieux Galleries, Gallery Huracan, and Shreveport Artspace. In Turkey, Emre's artworks have been selected for World Art Day with UNESCO, the Exhibition for Turkish National Anthem CKSM, Turkish Republic Day Akdeniz University, and International Women’s Day Dokumapark MSG.

AWARD & SELECTION

Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition 2024’ Emre’s painting was selected for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition 2024, at the Mall Galleries, London, UK.

Arts New Orleans How You Doin’, New Orleans? 2024 ’ Two of Emre’s paintings have been selected as part of the City of New Orleans Percent for Art Collection.

New Orleans Art Association (NOAA) Juried National Art Show 2024’ Emre’s artwork has been selected for the New Orleans Art Association (NOAA) 2024 Juried National Art Show and received the Merit Award

17th Annual Louisiana Fine Arts Showcase 2024’ Emre’s artwork has been selected for the 17th Annual Louisiana Fine Arts Showcase at the President's residence at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond

New Orleans Art Association (NOAA) Juried National Art Show 2023’ Emre’s artwork has been selected for the New Orleans Art Association (NOAA) 2023 Juried National Art Show.

16th Annual Louisiana Fine Arts Showcase 2023’ Emre’s artwork has been selected for the 16th Annual Louisiana Fine Arts Showcase at the President's residence at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond

LSU Museum of Art ‘The State of the Art 2022' Two of Emre’s paintings were selected as a part of the State of the Art: Record Zine Project at LSU Museum of Art | Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge, LA

Ashé Cultural Arts Center 'Art of the Black Experience 2021' Emre’s painting has been selected to become part of the City of New Orleans Percent for Art Collection.

Emre Karaoglu: A Figurative Turkish Artist, Colorful Portraits Of Modern-day Life

Witness 2024

Emotion, connection, and culture are infused within my paintings. I meticulously focus on silhouettes and the changing states of the human experience. I am an observer and an archivist of modern-day culture.

The body of artworks that I am creating “up close and personal.” They are intimate moments with people around me and strangers in physical proximity. I am a witness to other people's lives.

I begin my process by observing people around me. My family, friends, people that I know or I see. I walk around the streets of New Orleans with my sketchbook in hand and take in my surroundings. I aim to capture the spirit of my subjects in the lively streets, cafes, bars, and other performance areas that make up the heart of the city. Additionally, drawings from life models are a very important part of my painting. When I draw, time slows down, I focus on my subjects and portraits deeply, and I create a connection and dialog with them.

Human bodies and faces embody many deep emotions in the routine struggle in life. As an observer, when you watch daily life, you can feel these emotions. I think the images I paint of the human body act as a bridge for me, a way to express to others what I feel from the people I see in daily life.

Emre was born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1992

2015 Studied at Budapest University of Technology and Economics in Hungary

2016 Graduated from Marmara University in Econometrics in Turkey

2016 Entered Marmara University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Sculpture in Turkey

2021 Moved to New Orleans from Istanbul

The artist is working in his studio in New Orleans, Louisiana

EXHIBITIONS

2024 PhotoNOLA 2024, Black & White Gala, New Orleans, LA

2024 Modern Figurative, ArtSpace Shreveport, LA

2024 O What A Night Gala, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans

2024 How You Doin’, New Orleans? Arts New Orleans, Merchant House

2024 New Orleans Art Association (NOAA) Juried National Art Show 2024

2024 Second Story Gallery Members Group Show, New Orleans Healing Center, LA

2024 New Orleans Photo Alliance Members Show,, New Orleans, LA

2024 Renegade Artist Collective, LeMieux Galleries, New Orleans, LA

2024 Magnolia Ball, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans

2024 New Orleans Kolaj Fest 2024, Second Story Gallery, New Orleans Healing Center, LA

2024 Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition 2024, Mall Galleries, London, UK

2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans, LA

2024 Human Experience, New Orleans Photo Alliance, New Orleans, LA

2024 Figurative Group Show: Impact, Gallery Huracan, New Orleans, LA

2024 Inspired By Women, Second Story Gallery, New Orleans Healing Center, LA

2024 Witness, Emre Karaoglu Solo Show, Second Story Gallery, New Orleans Healing Center, LA

2024 Individuals: Figurative Group Show, Second Story Gallery, New Orleans Healing Center, LA

2023 PhotoNOLA 2023, Second Story Gallery, New Orleans Healing Center, LA

2023 Connection, Gallery Huracan, New Orleans, LA

2023 New Orleans Art Association (NOAA) Juried National Art Show 2023, New Orleans, LA

2023 Summer Show, Sullivan Gallery Gallery, New Orleans, LA

2023 16th Annual Louisiana Fine Arts Showcase, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA

2023 New Orleans Kolaj Fest 23, Second Story Galler, New Orleans Healing Center, LA

2023 Drawing Art, Gryder Gallery, New Orleans, LA

2023 Faces Around Us, Sullivan Gallery, New Orleans, LA

2022 Miniature Art Exhibition, New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, New Orleans, LA

2022 99 Years of the Turkish Republic Day, Trakya University Faculty of Fine Arts, Turkey

2022 The State of the Art: Record Zine Project from LSU Museum of Art, LA

2022 Faces & Traces, Kadikoy Mag, Luna Grande Gallery Istanbul, Turkey

2022 The Rhythm Of The Street, Carafe İstanbul, Turkey

2022 Natural States, Madame Vic’s, New Orleans, LA

2021 Art of the Black Experience, Ashé Cultural Arts Center, New Orleans, LA

2021 Exhibition For World Art Day with UNESCO, Istanbul, Turkey

2021 Exlibris Exhibition for Turkish National Anthem, CKSM, Istanbul, Turkey

2021 Exhibition For International Women’s Day, Dokumapark Modern Sanatlar Galerisi, Turkey

2020 Exhibition for Turkish Republic Day, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey

2020 Taksim Sanat Art Center, Istanbul, Turkey

2020 Akademililer Art Center, Istanbul, Turkey

2019 UPSD Genç Etkinlik 8, MKM Beşiktaş Çağdaş, İstanbul, Turkey

2019 100 Artists 100 Portraits, CKSM, İstanbul, Turkey

2018 Akademililer Art Center, Istanbul, Turkey

2016 Akademililer Art Center, Istanbul, Turkey

2016 Bindali Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey

2016 Akademililer Art Center, Istanbul, Turkey

2015 Akademililer Art Center, Istanbul, Turkey

ART FAIRS & FESTIVALS

2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans, LA

2020 ARTANKARA / 6th Contemporary Art Fair, Ankara, Turkey

2018 ARTIST / Istanbul Art Fair, Istanbul, Turkey

ART RESIDENCIES

2016 Bodrum Art Suites Gallery-Workshop, Turkey

2013 Portakal Çiceği International Plastic Arts Colony-Workshop, Turkey

E-mail: hekaraoglu@gmail.com