ABOUT DENIZ

I am drawn to moments when emotion finds a physical expression: the weight of a resting body, a face turned toward light, or a gesture that carries something words cannot quite hold. My figures inhabit worlds of their own, absorbed in an experience that does not depend on being observed. Solitude, in these paintings, can offer room for reflection, pleasure, independence, and change.

Working with oils and oil sticks, I combine recognizable forms with loose brushwork, softened edges, and passages of expressive color. Light helps shape the emotional character of each painting, while shifts in texture and atmosphere connect the figure to her surroundings. I want the feeling to move through the whole painting—from the face and posture to the space around the body.

My ongoing series approach this world from different perspectives. Interior States explores the relationship between women and the spaces they inhabit, finding emotional depth in familiar rooms and everyday activities. Inner States draws closer, exploring intimate expressions of tenderness, longing, resilience, and self-discovery.

Across both series, I return to the experience of becoming more fully oneself: embracing vulnerability, claiming personal freedom, and allowing joy to take up space. I hope these paintings offer a moment of recognition—a feeling, a memory, or a possibility that belongs to the viewer.

I am a contemporary figurative oil painter based in Connecticut and New York. My work explores the many dimensions of women’s lives, including their private thoughts, everyday pleasures, vulnerability, and growing sense of freedom.

After a career in the corporate world, I chose to devote myself to painting. I pursued my artistic education at Milan Art Institute and continued developing my practice through workshops with established artists. This change also marked a personal shift: making room for a life shaped by creativity and a more direct expression of who I am.