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Internationally known for shaping Türkiye's music scene with his iconic album cover photography in the 1990s, Koray Kasap has turned a new page in his artistic journey.
The celebrated photographer has opened a compelling 3D art exhibition in Morristown, New Jersey, featuring works infused with Turkish cultural heritage and global themes.
Held in an open-air gallery, the mixed-media exhibition has attracted considerable attention from both Turkish and American art enthusiasts.
Visitors were drawn not only to the visual impact of the artworks but also to the emotional depth and social commentary behind them.
Kasap, who studied photography at Mimar Sinan University’s Faculty of Fine Arts, received painting training for two years from the legendary Turkish painter Devrim Erbil. At the exhibition's opening, Kasap reflected on his artistic evolution: “I felt it was finally time to return to painting.”
He criticized the current state of photography, saying, “Photography as an art form has become diluted. Every image is now mistakenly seen as art. I want to focus on painting for a while.”
Kasap regards painting as both a divine gift and a legacy from his father.
“I don’t feel the need to sign my paintings. Producing in this field feels like a spiritual obligation—something I owe.”
Although this is his first public exhibition of paintings, Kasap is no stranger to the international art scene. In 2015, he opened a photography show in Brooklyn, inaugurated by the current New York Mayor Eric Adams.
One of the exhibition’s standout pieces, titled Palestinian Mother, depicts a veiled woman shielding her two children beneath her keffiyeh. The emotionally charged piece has resonated deeply with visitors.
“We couldn’t do much for Palestine, and that pain stays with us,” Kasap said. “At the very least, I wanted to include a piece in my collection that speaks for them.”
Acclaimed jewelry designer Sevan Bicakci reportedly contacted Kasap to commend the painting and requested it be reserved. Kasap plans to donate the painting’s proceeds to Palestinian children.
Kasap’s distinctive style includes incorporating everyday objects onto canvas, creating rich 3D textures. He often works with charcoal and coffee instead of traditional paints, achieving a more organic and transparent surface.
The exhibition features a wide thematic range, from Ottoman spirituality in The Dervish Who Trained His Ego to architectural reverence in Ayasofya and historical inspiration in Boxer, a tribute to legendary fighter Muhammad Ali. Many works prominently feature horse figures—symbols Kasap believes hold a timeless place in the human story.
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