Banu Tulumen

Artist Bio

I am a multifaceted abstract painter, illustrator, and writer based in Summerland, BC, Canada. Born in Istanbul, Türkiye, I grew up traveling the world as the daughter of a career diplomat, absorbing the vivid colours and cultural diversity that continue to influence my work. My creative journey spans interior design, event planning, illustration, and writing. I authored and illustrated three children’s books in English, and my illustrations were first exhibited in 1976 at the Turkish American Association Gallery in Ankara. My early paintings were shown at the Sadberk Hanim Museum in Istanbul in the 1980s. After immigrating to Canada in 2010, I returned to art with renewed purpose, developing a distinctive voice in interpretive abstraction—an emotional, symbolic, and intuitive approach to non-literal painting. I often work on round and oval canvases to challenge imposed boundaries, especially those confining women. My layered, fluid works suggest spectral figures, silhouettes, tree-like forms, or mythical creatures—echoes of transformation, migration, resilience, and freedom. Recent highlights include exhibitions at the Federation Gallery (Vancouver), Propeller Art Gallery (Toronto), Artifacts Projects Gallery (New York), and MEAM – Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona. Notable works include Flabbergasted, Midnight Shadows, Celestial Impact, and Silent Horizon. In 2023, I published my first novel, Coincidences & Consequences, with FriesenPress. I currently serve as President of the Penticton & District Community Arts Council, helping to foster arts and culture in our region.