Özlem Paker was born in Istanbul in 1968. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from the Ceramics Department of Mimar Sinan University she moved to New York. She received her MFA from the Multimedia Department at the Parsons School of Design. During her studies she has taught in Parson’s Industrial Design and Communications Design departments. Paker, who has been living in Istanbul since 2002, blends photography, video, mixed media, and multimedia in her artistic practice. In her works depicting the structural, psychological, and socio-political impact of her international experiences, transitions between two-dimensions, three-dimensions and the virtual new media can be seen.

The principal concepts that the artist probes and takes inspiration from are status of womanhood and humanity, relativity, universal interaction, relativism and the continuous rhythm of existence. Paker describes the creative process as “a spiritual journey on its own and an act of finding yourself all over again each time.” With her works Paker wishes to first surprise the viewer and then induce a dialogue by inviting them into her own meditative space.

The artist’s works have been displayed at the American Craft Museum, the Istanbul Painting and Sculpture Museum, as well as many international galleries and art events. Her works can be found in private collections in a variety of countries.