Oya Basaga’s artistic journey began with her participation in the Fashion Design Certificate program at Parsons School of Design in New York between 1982-85. During this process, she realized her inclination towards painting and gained confidence. In 1985, due to her husband’s diplomatic mission, she went to Beirut, Lebanon and then to Ankara in 1989. There, she attended Kayıhan Keskinok’s art classes. The following year, she went to Cairo due to her husband’s diplomatic assignment and continued her studies by taking classes at Prof. Mustafa El-Razzez’s Studio. Basage  continued her search at the Studio of Margout Weillon, who was born in Switzerland, spent her life in Cairo and became famous in Egypt and Switzerland at the age of 84.Developing herself in a strict and normative process about installations and still lifes made with various materials, Basaga also witnesses the difficulties and struggles of Ahmed, an Egyptian street artist. She works with Ahmed on portraits and nature. In addition, she tries to draw people on the streets and make watercolor paintings with a Lebanese friend. Oya experienced one of the important turning points of her artistic life when she was in Bonn between 1996-1999 and met Decorative Painting and Decoupage, which became her favorite artistic pursuit for the next 25 years, and attended decorative painting courses at Chelsea Art College in England, which is considered the homeland of Decoupage. During her time in London, she took private lessons from British artist Annie Sloan. Later, Annie Sloan gave art courses in Berlin with Oya’s assistance and organized the launch of her latest book. In 2013, Oya moved to Helsinki again due to her husband’s diplomatic mission, where she met Finnish artist Elena Maijala and joined the painting group. Shortly after, she took the entrance exams for Vapaa Taide Koulu (founded by the Akademie Libre) in Paris. She completed her first year as one of the few students chosen and was among the 11 students who won the right to continue to the second year, completing her 4-year painting education. She graduated in her last year under the mentorship of Paavo Paunu, who holds the title of Finnish National Artist. During her school years, she participated in many group exhibitions at Galerie Vaaga and also opened a solo exhibition. She received great praise in the exhibitions, which were made with different subjects and materials. In addition, her painting of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was chosen as the “painting of the month” by the students of the school for 2 months and was exhibited at the school entrance. One of her paintings was exhibited for 1 month at the Helsinki Courthouse. All of her paintings on the subject of Kaftans are being sold in her solo exhibition titled ‘Big Hug’ at Hotel Torni, Helsinki. Basaga uses her own wax mixture – dry pigment – ​​various binders, leaves and wax foils on the background and the objects she paints in her oil paintings.

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