Atanur and Asuman Dogan are Turkish-Canadian watercolorists and sculptors who met in 1983 while studying Fine Arts at Dokuz Eylul University in Izmir, Turkey. They began their travels together studying Anatolian villages and developed an acute awareness of the countryside and its inhabitants. This sensitivity has influenced their artistic style.
They moved to Canada in 1993 with their son Atas and became established as artists in Vancouver. Their second son Ata was born in 1997. They now have dual citizenship and work in both countries. They have traveled extensively throughout North America and Europe, discovering new cultures that provide additional subject material for their art.
They have held exhibitions throughout Turkey and in Zurich, Paris, London, Taiwan, and Japan. In North America, their work has been shown in New York, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria, and many shows in Vancouver. Asuman’s work is semi-expressionist, capturing village life and still lifes with loose washes. Atanur’s paintings portray ordinary people, elderly men, and characters involved in Turkish customs.
In 2004, the Portrait Society of Canada selected Atanur as one of five portrait artists deemed best in the world. He was also invited to be the demonstrating portrait artist at the International Portrait Arts Festival in Toronto. In 2009, the couple received the People’s Choice Award at a major art show in Toronto.
“Their main objective was to demonstrate that an event of this nature could overcome language barriers and create new bonds through the medium of art.”
They both taught in Turkey and provide workshops for various art groups in Canada. In May 2004, they organized an international art exhibition called “Peace Through Art” in Cesme, Turkey, which drew 285 artists from 22 countries. In 2008, the family relocated to Oakville, Ontario. They continue to create watercolor art and teach others.
Q: What defines the Dogans’ artistic style?
A: Their work is defined by a sensitivity to village life, semi-expressionist watercolor techniques, and a commitment to building cultural bridges through art. Atanur focuses on portraits and Turkish customs, while Asuman captures landscapes and still lifes, and both are dedicated to teaching and promoting international artistic exchange.