Today we’d like to introduce you to Hulis Mavruk.
Hi Hulis, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started painting as a child in Turkey. I knew early on that painting was my purpose. As a teenager, I painted for American soldiers at the military base in Turkey. I immigrated to New York in 1974 where I continued my journey in the art world. I opened my first art gallery on Worth Street in Manhattan, and from there my career took off. I opened a few more galleries in Manhattan and Long Island. My artwork has been featured in various movies, tv, books some include, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills hanging in the home of Garcelle Beauvais, Barbershop 2, Malibu’s Most Wanted, 3rd Rock from The Sun, in Oxford University Textbooks, the home of Queen Latifah, as well as cover art for Common. My images of The Last Supper and Baptism have sold millions of copies. My work is hanging in homes all over the world. Now I am happy to open my newest gallery in Boca Raton.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course, there are always struggles, especially in the beginning. When I first came to this country, I was alone and had to learn a new language. I worked closely with people who owned their own businesses so that I could learn from them and their success. It was a rough road getting started but it was all worth it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am happy to say I do not specialize in anything. That for me is the beauty of art, I am able to create many different styles. When I first started out in New York, I found that galleries barely had any black art, if any. To me, that seemed strange because most of my clients at the military base as a kid were black and they had such a deep appreciate for arts and culture. I began painting historic black figures, I opened my gallery and gave a platform for black artists to sell their work. I am so proud of that time of my life because those artist’s careers flourished from there and mine did as well. We worked together to lift each other up and art has the power to bring people together. Now I sit back with those same artists, much older, and reminisce about those days. I really am proud of how far we have all come. I also painted many sceneries, and now in my career, I am painting pop art which has been fun. I have been using a splatter technique which is so different from what I have done in the past. I also do a lot of portraits, which I love. I am most fulfilled when I see my art bringing joy to people. I think what sets me apart from others is that I do not focus my creativity or limit myself to one particular style, I love to do it all.
What’s next?
This gallery has been my big change! After a lifetime as a New Yorker, I am excited to now be a Floridian. I left my gallery in New York to my son and moved to Boca Raton with my wife, daughter, son-in-law, and two beautiful grandchildren. I watched my children grow up in my galleries and I am looking forward to watching my kids run my galleries while my grandkids grow up in them.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@gallerymavruk.com
- Website: gallerymavruk.com
- Instagram: @gallerymavruk
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gallerymavruk
- Other: hulismavruk.com
Image Credits
All photography by Tess Ann Photography.
