Ara Güler was born in Istanbul 1928. Throughout his life he was a significant global representative of Turkey’s creative photography. He worked as Near East photojournalist for Time Life in 1956, Paris Match in 1958 and Stern magazine. Magnum Photos also published Ara Güler’s photos globally and in 1961, he had become the first Turkish member of the American Society of Magazine Photographers (ASMP).
In 1962, he was awarded the Master of Leica title in Germany and featured in a special issue of Swiss Camera magazine, one of the world’s leading photography publications. Güler also photographed the images for Lord Kinross’ Hagia Sophia Book published in 1971 and the cover photo on “Picasso: Métamorphose et Unité”, published by Skira Books to celebrate Picasso’s 90th birthday.
His images on art and art history were published by Time Life, Horizon, Newsweek and Skira Publishing House.
Güler’s photographs of Architect Sinan’s buildings were published in a book titled “Sinan: Architect of Séleyman the Magnificent” in France in 1992 by Edition Arthaud Publications and in the US and UK by Thames & Hudson Publications.
In 2002, he was awarded “the Légion d’honneur: Officier des Arts et des Lettres” by the French government, and in 2009 “La Médaille de la Ville de Paris” by Paris Municipality.
Güler was presented the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Culture and Arts Grand Award in 2005, the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism Culture and Arts Service Award in 2008, Turkish Grand National Assembly Superior Service Award in 2009, US Lucie Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009 and the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism Culture and Arts Grand Award in 2011.
He was also bestowed upon an “Honorary Doctorate” by the Yildiz Technical University in 2004, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in 2013 and Boğaziçi University in 2014.
Ara Güler Photography Exhibition has been curated by the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey in collaboration with Dogus Group Ara Güler Museum, Archives and Research Centre. Following the exhibition in London, Güler’s work will be exhibited in Paris, Kyoto, New York, Rome and Mogashishu.
Exhibition Schedule
April 2019 – LONDON, SAATCHI GALLERY
May 2019 – PARIS, POLKA GALLERY
June 2019 – KYOTO, TOFUKUJI TEMPLE
September 2019 – NEW YORK, SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN
January 2020 – ROME, TRASTEVERE MUSEUM
April 2020 – MOGADISHU, TURKISH EMBASSY