Serpil Mavi Üstün | “No Added Sugar”

Press release

Long Story Short is pleased to present No Added Sugar, the latest exhibition by Serpil Mavi Üstün on view November 10th - December 10th at 52 Henry St, New York, NY, 10002.

No Added Sugar is a collection of works that blends everyday moments and psychology – where depictions of day-to-day routines offer subtle quirks and conflicts within these scenes. Mavi Üstün employs a muted color palette of pastel and gray tones to emphasize her figures' forms and expressions, creating sparse, infinite backgrounds. These paintings depict individuals grappling with loneliness, revealing personal stories and occasional passive-aggressive idiosyncrasies. These characters may disrupt moments of happiness and beauty, reflecting the conflicts of daily life. As Mavi Üstün eloquently states: “These heroes, who ruin their own pastel world, reflect the conflicts that we deal with in our daily routine.”

Serpil Mavi Üstün's art explores the isolation experienced in contemporary urban society. Her paintings portray ordinary activities in picturesque settings, including city strolls, coffee enjoyment, and flower purchases. Mavi Üstün provides a glimpse into the personal narratives of vulnerable, troubled, and melancholic characters, shedding light on the theme of solitude. The artist is particularly intrigued by the internal struggles we face daily, illustrating how we can easily undermine our own happiness even in seemingly perfect situations. For Mavi Üstün, this paradox represents the inner turmoil experienced by individuals confined by the social system. The characters in her work also symbolize those who strive to resist and respond to the challenging circumstances that surround us. “ ‘the agony of the individual’ who has been caught in a trap of existence and surrounded with the means of the social system.”

Serpil Mavi Üstün's (b.1979,Turkey) lives and works in London since 2016. She earned her degree from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in Istanbul, where she also dedicated two years to arcaic mosaics, fresco, and sigrafito workshops. Serpil has exhibited her work globally, leaving a profound impact on art enthusiasts. Her solo exhibitions include "Caramel Macchiato" at C.A.M. Gallery, Istanbul (2022), "Everything Is Ok" at One Paved Court, London (2019), and the "Royal Arts Prize Runner-up exhibition" at the Royal Opera Arcade Gallery, London (2018). She has been included in group exhibitions at Mrs. Gallery, NYC (2022), Galerie Marguo, Paris (2023), The Artist Room London (2022),Galeri Nev, Kendi Collection, Istanbul(2022),amongst others. Her art has also graced the pages of esteemed publications such as Art Maze Mag and Maake Mag, further establishing her as a prominent figure in the contemporary art world.