Graduates of the Near East University Faculty of Fine Arts and Design crowned their four-year educational journey with a graduation exhibition. The “17th Graduation Exhibition” brought together the dreams and creative visions of young artists with art lovers, featuring artworks varying from painting and sculpture to ceramics and graphic design.
Near East University, ranked among the top 500 universities in the world, hosted the traditional graduation exhibition of its Faculty of Fine Arts and Design this year. The “17th Graduation Exhibition,” showcasing works by graduates of the 2025-2026 Spring Semester of the Near East University Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, was presented to visitors at the Near East University Atatürk Culture and Congress Center Exhibition Hall.
The exhibition, which brought together works by young artists graduating from the Graphic Design and Plastic Arts departments, showcased the technical skills, aesthetic understanding, and original creative approaches that students developed throughout their education to art lovers. The exhibition, featuring a wide range of works from painting and sculpture to ceramics and printmaking, also included posters, canvas prints, and original designs from various disciplines. The exhibition, which was realized as a meeting point of effort, passion, and creativity, included a powerful space for expression, revealing the artistic identities of the graduates.
The exhibition, which saw a large turnout, was attended by numerous academics, alumni, and their families, including the Founding Rector of Near East University, Dr. Suat İrfan Günsel, and the Rector of Near East University, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ. The opening speech was given by Prof. Erdal Aygenç, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design at Near East University. On behalf of the graduates, Çiğdem Gülmüş, the top student of the faculty, expressed her feelings.
Prof. Erdal Aygenç: “This faculty will continue to be your home.”
Expressing his pleasure in bringing the works of the 17th graduating class to art lovers in the faculty’s 20th year, Prof. Erdal Aygenç, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design at Near East University, stated that the graduating students are now part of the professional world. Prof. Dr. Aygenç, noting that art education is not a process completed with a diploma, said, “Graduating from an art school doesn’t mean everything is over. On the contrary, the most exciting part of the art and design journey begins now.”
Addressing the graduates, Prof. Dr. Aygenç emphasized that creative individuals should persevere in the face of challenges, saying, “You will encounter various obstacles throughout your life. The important thing is to courageously continue on your path without letting these obstacles deter you from your goals.”
Stating that artists and designers look at the world with a different perspective, Prof. Dr. Aygenç said that creative thinking is one of the most important forces in social transformation. Inviting the graduates to continue creating, questioning, and dreaming, Aygenç said, “An artist, designer, or entrepreneur always keeps their hope, courage, and fighting spirit alive. They never lose their belief that they can change the world.”, and, Emphasizing that the graduates are embarking on a new journey today but that their connection with the faculty will never be broken, Prof. Aygenç added, “You may be leaving us today, but our doors will always be open to you. This faculty will continue to be your home.”
Çiğdem Gülmüş: “The increasing value given to art on our campus and seeing its traces in many parts of the campus makes me especially happy.”
Stating that the art and design education did not only provide them with technical knowledge, the top-graduate student of the faculty, Çiğdem Gülmüş, noted that they learned to observe, question, think, and make ideas visible during this process. Emphasizing that her success was not solely her own, Gülmüş thanked the faculty members who guided them on their academic journey, saying, “Our professors not only imparted knowledge to us; they also guided us with their visions. Sometimes a single sentence they said changed our direction, and sometimes their actions showed us that we could do better. They made us feel not just like students, but also like valued individuals and future colleagues.”
Stating that Near East University provides students with a campus life that offers not only an educational environment but also opportunities to create and develop themselves, Çiğdem Gülmüş said, “The increasing value given to art on our campus and seeing its traces in many parts of the campus makes me especially happy. I would like to express my gratitude to all our administrators who contributed to this process.”
