Emre is a PhD researcher and visual artist whose work investigates silence, visual storytelling and ethical attention at the intersection of visual culture and AI. Working across visual art, illustration, animation and practice-based research, he explores how wordless images can create slower, more collective ways of seeing and responding to care, climate justice, urban vulnerability and digital culture.

His work examines environmental crisis, multispecies relations, social inequality, AI ethics and the emotional landscapes of everyday life, combining practice-based research with visual storytelling and participatory methods.

His PhD research in Humanities and Communication at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya in Barcelona investigates silent graphic narratives, image–text relations, non-verbal storytelling and the cultural implications of artificial intelligence for contemporary visual culture. He holds an MA in Art Education and a BFA in Painting from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University.

His debut wordless graphic novel, Fishes May Come Back, was published in the UK, and his illustrations have appeared in international publications including The Guardian.

Talks and Conferences

Visuality of Silence: Understanding wordless-graphic novels in terms of their cognitive learning ways (2021, Nov 10). ECR Conference, The British Psychological Society, UK.

Artists Roundtable at Comics and Global South Conference (2022, Mar 18), University of Cambridge, UK.

The Place Where the Unending Time is: Discovering the history of silent-graphic novels in terms of their timeless communication (2021, Nov 6). Domus Centre and History of Education Society, University of Birmingham, UK.

Silent Literacy to Construct and Product the Identity (2021, May 27). Yidan Prize Doctoral Conference, Education Department, University of Oxford, UK.

Visualizing Otherwise: A Wordless Inquiry into Homelessness (2025, Sep 12). (Don't) Believe The Hype: Resisting Technology Hype through Critical and Creative Practice, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona.

Between Silence and Automation: Ethics and Aesthetics in Contemporary Graphic Narratives (2025, Nov 13).
Comics Forum Industry 2025, Leeds Central Library, UK.

Published Works and Fellowships

2023 Commissioned illustrator for The Guardian, "I am here, I am free", Editors: Jessica Reed, Rita Liu

2022 ''All is Not Well: Care Giving in Sequential Art'' collaboration with Dr. Ryan Prout and Jonathan Clode on the story about homeless people. Funded by the University of Cardiff and ESRC in the UK.

2022 ''The Expectants'', selected artwork at Comics and Global South Conference Exhibition at the
University of Cambridge, UK.

2022-23 Edgelands Institute Artist Fellow, Geneva, Switzerland.

2021 ''Fishes May Come Back'' debut wordless graphic novel was published by Good Comics based in London, UK.

Orchards in Blossom: Silent language to form an identity in terms of progressive ways of education. Published in the proceedings of Yidan Prize Doctoral Conference (2021) in The British Library / Education Department, University of Oxford, UK.

Youth: Overview Context. In Maria Brauzzi (Ed.), Education and Childhood Studies (2021).
London: Bloomsbury Publication.

Paul Klee and B.R. Eyuboglu: A Comparison of Ideas on Creativity and Art Education.
In: Journal of Art and Design, 2021, ISSN: 1308-2264. 

2021 ''Obelisk'' wordless graphic novel commissioned by Dustin Carpenter from Portland, US. Produced as a funded Kickstarter project, awarded the "Project We Love" badge by Kickstarter's editorial team.

2021 Featured illustration in New Plains Review, University of Central Oklahoma,  North America.

2020 Featured artwork at the University of Glasgow, in the ezine of Arts & Humanities, Glasgow, UK.

2020 Featured illustrations through the ezine of Epoque Press based in Dublin, Ireland.

Research Projects, Exhibitions, Awards and Shortlistings 

2024 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Accelerator Lab, Design Consultant, Sustainability-focused initiative in Wadi Rum, Jordan. Developed visual and narrative materials supporting native species restoration and the preservation of Bedouin cultural practices, emphasising indigenous knowledge, ecological stewardship and multispecies relations.  

2023 Edgelands Institute (Switzerland), Developed The Cost of Being Homeless in the Age of Smart Cities, a research-based visual publication examining government data collection, surveillance, digital infrastructure and their effects on people experiencing homelessness. Investigated questions of privacy, technological accountability, urban governance and social inequality. Directed by Yves Daccord and Beatriz Botero. 

2023 Against Digital Fatalism Award: Resisting technology hype through hopeful artful interventions with immersive futures / Shortlisted artist, University of Bristol, UK. 

2022 The Bottom Drawer Prize /Shortlisted with Orchards in Blossom /non-fiction book about ''silent language'' in wordless graphic narratives, UK.

2021 Light and Memory: Journal of Storytelling Scholarship and Art Organisation, Co-founder.

"SASME+ / Civil Media in Service of Social Campaigns Promoting Activation of Seniors", 
Funded Research Project by European Union / Research Assistant, 2020-2022.

"Big Data-Based, Evidence-Based School Assessment and Education Excellence", Research Project.              
Funded by the Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Education / Research Assistant, 2020-2022.

2017 Nuri Iyem Painting Award - Selected Work - Evin Art Gallery, Istanbul, TR.

2016 "Kuşluktan İçeri", Istanbul The Art Studio - Solo Exhibition, Kadikoy, Istanbul, TR.

2014 Istanbul International Art Fair - Group Exhibition, Istanbul, TR.

2014 Ipek-Ahmet Merey Painting Award - Selected Work, Osman Hamdi Bey Hall, Istanbul, TR.

Affiliations 

Edgelands Institute (Pop-Up Institute affiliated with Harvard University)
Advisory Board Member; Co-Leader, Art Department & Asian Perspectives
Contribute to the strategic direction and governance of interdisciplinary artistic research initiatives addressing urban life, digital culture, environmental justice and social inequality. Support research development, curate artistic contributions and collaborate with international researchers, artists and policymakers on projects engaging public space, technology and care.

Light and Memory: Art, Design, Education & Research Lab | Journal of Storytelling Scholarship
Co-founded an international platform dedicated to artistic research and visual storytelling, facilitating dialogue between artists and scholars. Organised international conferences, curated publications and interviews and developed collaborative projects exploring narrative ethics, non-verbal communication, memory and socially engaged art practices.

Press

The Guardian / 2023 / Newspaper, UK | Broken Frontier / 2020 / Magazine, UK | WIP Comics / 2020 / Podcast, UK | Solrad / 2020 / Magazine, UK | A Place to Hang Your Cape / 2021 / Magazine, UK | Pipedream / 2021 / Magazine, UK