Mehmet Özçay

Mehmet Özçay was born in Çankaya, Trabzon in 1961. He finished primary and middle school education in Gerede. He graduated from the Faculty of Theology at Atatürk University in 1986. He learned nesih and sülüs scripts from Fuat Başar, and obtained his professional license from the master.

In 1986 and 1989, Özçay participated in the international calligraphy competitions, which were organized by the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) and won six prizes in various categories. In 1992, he copied and wrote the Holy Qur’an and published it in 1992. The book “Spoken by the Hand, Heart by the Eye” which is the selection of his calligraphy works spanning 25 years, was published in English and Arabic in 2007.

Özçay has had many solo exhibitions, and has participated in numerous international group exhibitions in Turkey and abroad. He has also served as a jury member in many international calligraphy competitions. He has established his own style in colored scribble (karalama) panels which are written with celi sülüs and celi nesih scripts. His calligraphy works can be seen in various national and international museums and private collections. Currently, Özçay continues to work at his workshop in Istanbul.

Reference: ozcay.com, istanbulunustalari.com, kalemguzeli.org, kenthaber.com, İstanbul’un Ustaları (Istanbul: İstanbul 2010 Avrupa Kültür Başkenti, 2010), p.98.