Meltem Gikas

Meltem Gikas was born in Konya in 1970. She first participated in a group exhibition in the State Fine Arts Gallery in Konya in 1988. She took classes on design from Recep Turing at Mimar Sinan University in 1989. In 1992, she studied restoration work at Yıldız Technical University. In 1994, Gikas joined Byzantine mosaic restoration work and exhibited them together with the Tekirdağ Museum and the archaeologist Samim Simanoğlu with the sponsorship of Austria Cultural Office. In 1997, she joined restoration work with New York University and drew wall fresco, which showed King David. In 1999, Gikas designed entrance iron door of Galatasaray High School and applied gold leaves to it. In 2000, she made mosaic with natural stones on the 1000 m2 ground in the garden of Eczacıbaşı’s villa, which was the former Polish Consulate. In 2001, Gikas voluntarily made mosaic with natural stones on a street within the context of the Fener Balat Street Project. In the same year, the artist restored and decorated Karaköy Saint Vincent Church. Gikas participated in a restoration workshop on icon and painting, which was held in the National Academy in Bulgaria in 2003. In 2005, she worked together with ISKI (the Administration of Water and Drains in Istanbul) for restoration project on Maçka Valide Sultan Fountain. In the next year, she participated in a group exhibition, which was organized by Gülsüm Erbil in 2006. Gikas has had solo exhibitions and participated in many group exhibitions in Turkey. She espouses tolerance and unity between religions and reflects them in her paintings.

Reference: meltemgikas.com