History

History

Atatürk University Faculty of Fine Arts was established following the decision published in the official gazette dated 11.07.1992 and numbered 21281. Accordingly, the Department of Painting deemed appropriate opened within the faculty by the decision of the Higher Education Council dated 16.07.1993 and numbered 2703 and started its activities in the 1994-1995 academic year. The founding faculty of the department were Professor Dr. Erol Kılıç, Prof. Mehmet Reşat Başar, Prof. Fevziye Eyigör Pelikoğlu, Prof. Mehmed Kavukcu, Prof. Mustafa Küçüköner, and instructor Mr. Hasan Yıldız. The department carried out its education and training activities in the building attached to the Faculty of Medicine and which is currently being used by the Fine Arts Institute between 1994 and 1996 and in the building belonging to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences/Mathematics Department between 1996 and 2004. Since the 2004-2005 academic year, the department with its faculty of qualified and experienced academics (two Professors, four Associate Professors, one Assistant Professor, one Lecturer, and two Research Assistants) continues its activities on the 3rd floor of Blocks 4 and 5 of the Fine Arts Faculty which has gradually settled in its building consisting of 8 blocks with an area of 33,000 m². At present, there are 8 painting studios where artistic projects are carried out and a 30 + 10 capacity classroom equipped with the latest technology.

Besides, the department has an attached building where the department's optional studio courses (Original Print-Painting / Screen Printing / Stained Glass / Fresco / Lithography) are carried out. And with the support of the lecturers and studios of the relevant departments of the faculty, the department can also serve for other optional studio courses (Sculpture / Computer / Ceramic / Video Art). Two common lecture halls- one has a capacity for 200 students and another for 60 students- are open to the use of the entire faculty, and they are used in carrying out the department's theoretical courses and YÖK (The Council of Higher Education) courses. As of the 2018-2019 academic year, there were 403 graduates from formal education and 291 from evening education. Graduates of the department have employment opportunities as ‘freelance artists’, ‘educators/researchers’ in education institutions related to fine arts, and as ‘art consultants/designers’ in private and public institutions.