Arda Çakmak

Arda Çakmak was born in Istanbul in 1977. He graduated from the Department of Traditional Turkish Arts in the Faculty of Fine Arts at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in 2000. He learned calligraphy from Prof. Ali Alparslan and Prof. Uğur Derman, and illumination art from Associate Prof. Dr. Tahsin Aykutalp. Çakmak has participated in various group exhibitions in Turkey and abroad. He has received many awards for his works. Currently, Çakmak teaches illumination art at the Traditional Turkish Arts Foundation, and miniature at the Tuze Art Gallery. He also gives private calligraphy lessons.

Awards:
1996, award of merit, illumination art competition, which was held by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism
2004, mention prize in the category of celi talik, international calligraphy competition, which was held by IRCICA
2005, second prize in the category of celi talik, international calligraphy competition, which was held by Al Baraka Turk
2005, first prize in the category of talik-hurde talik, international "Hilye-i Şerife" competition, which was held by Antik A.Ş.
2007, first prize in the category of talik, international calligraphy competition, which was held by IRCICA
2007, first prize in the category of celi talik, international calligraphy competition, which was held by IRCICA
2008, special prize, international illumination competition, which was organized by Al Burda in the United Arab Emirates

Reference: ardacakmak.com, kalemguzeli.orgistanbulunustalari.com, istanbulunustalari.com, İstanbul’un Ustaları (Istanbul: İstanbul 2010 Avrupa Kültür Başkenti, 2010), p. 163.