Hanefi Yeter (*1947 in Bayburt, Türkiye) lives and works in Istanbul and Bodrum.
For more than five decades, Yeter has developed a multidisciplinary practice encompassing painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, and art in public space. His work explores the relationship between the individual and society, humanity and nature, as well as questions of migration, displacement, memory, and belonging. Moving between figurative and increasingly reduced forms, his visual language combines social observation with psychological and philosophical reflection.
Yeter studied painting at the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts in the studio of Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu and continued his artistic education at the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris and the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin. His years in Berlin from the 1970s onward became particularly formative for his practice. Alongside his studio work, he realised numerous projects in public space, including murals, ceramic façades, mosaics, sculptures, and architectural works in Germany and Türkiye.
Since the late 1970s, Yeter’s work has been presented in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Türkiye and internationally. His early exhibition history includes presentations in both West and East Germany; in 1983, he exhibited at the Berliner Stadtbibliothek in East Berlin. His work forms part of the artistic history of migration in post-war Germany and has received renewed institutional attention in recent years.
In 2026, Yeter’s work is presented in Kreuzberg: Kunst und Migration seit 1960 at the Gropius Bau and Geteiltes Leben. Kunst und Migration in Berlin at the Museum Ephraim-Palais / Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin, as well as at Manifesta 16 Ruhr. These exhibitions place works from different periods of his practice in dialogue with broader histories of migration, urban life, and cultural transformation in Germany.
Yeter has presented more than 90 solo exhibitions over the course of his career, alongside an extensive body of works created for public and architectural contexts.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
Never Was the World Worldlier, Anna Laudel, Düsseldorf, Germany
HÂL-BU-Kİ, Anna Laudel, Bodrum, Türkiye
2022
Vesile, Anna Laudel, Istanbul, Türkiye
Defter, Himmet Öcal / Orkun Ozan Art Gallery, Antalya, Türkiye
2019
Selvin & Harmony Art Gallery, Istanbul, Türkiye
2018
Endless Art, Istanbul, Türkiye
Arda Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
Neylesin Terazi, Orkun Ozan Art Gallery, Antalya, Türkiye
2017
Odunpazarı Contemporary Art Gallery, Eskişehir, Türkiye
Şevket Sabancı Culture and Art Center, Bodrum, Türkiye
İş Sanat Kibele Art Gallery, Istanbul, Türkiye
Yaşar Museum Art Gallery, İzmir, Türkiye
2015
Anna Laudel / ART350, Istanbul, Türkiye
KAV Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
2013
Arete Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
2010
Takı-Antika Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
2009
Gözde Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
2008
Atölye Akademist Gallery, İzmir, Türkiye
Galeri Işık, Istanbul, Türkiye
Batıbirlik Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
R.C. Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
2007
Doğa Na’ya, Orkun Ozan Art Gallery, Antalya, Türkiye
Gallery Selvin, Istanbul, Türkiye
Takı-Antika Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
2006
Arda Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
75th Year Art Gallery, Adana, Türkiye
Elefanten Press Galerie, Berlin, Germany
Galerie Ultim Art, Paris, France
PG Art Gallery, Istanbul, Türkiye
2005
Bilkent University, Ankara, Türkiye
Terakki Art Foundation, Istanbul, Türkiye
Yaşar Museum Art Gallery, İzmir, Türkiye
Leonardo Art Gallery, Istanbul, Türkiye
2004
Crowne Plaza, Istanbul, Türkiye
Gallery İnin, Istanbul, Türkiye
Gözde Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
2003
Takı-Antika Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
Gallery Toyan, Ankara, Türkiye
2002
A, Orkun Ozan Art Gallery, Antalya, Türkiye
Gözde Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
2001
Gallery Yurt & Dünya, Istanbul, Türkiye
Arda Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
2000
Garanti Sanat, Istanbul, Türkiye
Gallery Tolga Eti, with Yunus Tonkuş, Istanbul, Türkiye
1999
Gallery Leonardo, İzmir, Türkiye
Gallery Notre, Berlin, Germany
Gallery G., Istanbul, Türkiye
PG Art Gallery, with Habib Aydoğdu and Yunus Tonkuş, Istanbul, Türkiye
1998
Galerie Tammen & Busch, Berlin, Germany
İş Bankası Parmakkapı Art Gallery, Istanbul, Türkiye
Arda Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
Hotel Ypsilon, Essen, Germany
1997
Gallery Evin, Istanbul, Türkiye
Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
1996
Türkisches Kulturhaus, Berlin, Germany
Arda Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
Villa Aichele, Lörrach, Germany
Gallery of National Reassurance, with Serpil Yeter, Istanbul, Türkiye
1995
Rathaus Liebstadt, Germany
Zeche Zollverein, Essen, Germany
Galerie am Chamissoplatz, with Hans Scheuker, Berlin, Germany
1994
IG Metall, Frankfurt, Germany
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Bonn, Germany
Schillerhaus, Bremerhaven, Germany
1993
Galerie Tammen & Busch, Berlin, Germany
Europe Without Walls, Manchester City Art Gallery, Manchester, United Kingdom
Düsseldorf, Germany
Vakko, Ankara / Istanbul / İzmir, Türkiye
1992
Gallery Urart, Ankara, Türkiye
Kreissparkasse, Rüsselsheim, Germany
1991
Städtisches Reiss-Museum, Mannheim, Germany
Ludgerikirche, Norden, Germany
Kult-Rendezvous, Erlangen, Germany
1990
German-Turkish Cultural Centre, Ankara, Türkiye
Elefanten Press Galerie, Berlin, Germany
Galerie Ultim Art, Paris, France
1989
Galerie am Chamissoplatz, Berlin, Germany
TÜYAP Fair and Exhibition Centre, Istanbul, Türkiye
Kunstamt, Maintal, Germany
1988
Galerie Steinbrecher, Bremen, Germany
Kunstamt Germersheim, Germany
Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin, Germany
1987
Galerie Hohenfelde, Hamburg, Germany
1986
Galerie El Patio, Bremen, Germany
Roemer- und Pelizaeus-Museum, Hildesheim, Germany
1985
Galerie am Chamissoplatz, Berlin, Germany
Evangelische Gemeinde, Tuttlingen, Germany
1984
Ethnological Museum, Nuremberg, Germany
Übersee-Museum, with Mehmet Aksoy, Bremen, Germany
Apex, Göttingen, Germany
1983
Galerie Hilger, Vienna, Austria
Berliner Stadtbibliothek, East Berlin, GDR
Galerie Hartmann, Kiel, Germany
Galerie Junge Künstler, Darmstadt, Germany
1982
Kunstverein Offenbach, Offenbach, Germany
Städtische Galerie Schloss Oberhausen, Oberhausen, Germany
Galerie F / François Friedrich, Cologne, Germany
1981
Produzentengalerie, Zurich, Switzerland
Neue Worpsweder Galerie, Worpswede, Germany
De Doelen, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Sohle 1, Bergkamen, Germany
Stadttheater Ulm, Ulm, Germany
Galerie Hartmut, Erlangen, Germany
Volkshochschule Bremerhaven, Bremerhaven, Germany
1980
Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, Germany
Galerie Türkay, Stuttgart, Germany
1979
EinsteinHaus, Ulm, Germany
Volkshochschule, Weinheim, Germany
1978
Kunstmuseum Bochum / Haus Kemnade, Bochum, Germany
Elefanten Press Galerie, Berlin and Hamburg, Germany
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026
Kreuzberg: Kunst und Migration seit 1960, Gropius Bau, Berlin, Germany
Geteiltes Leben. Kunst und Migration in Berlin, Museum Ephraim-Palais, Berlin Museum, Berlin, Germany
Manifesta 16 Ruhr, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
2025
Where You Are Understood, Anna Laudel, Istanbul, Türkiye
2022
The Cyclical Nature of Time, Anna Laudel, Istanbul, Türkiye
Galeri Soyut, Ankara, Türkiye
IMOGA Collection Exhibition, Himmet Öcal / Orkun Ozan Art Gallery, Antalya, Türkiye
2020
SubsTanz, Endless Art, Istanbul, Türkiye
2019
Anna Laudel, Istanbul, Türkiye
Şevket Sabancı Culture and Art Center, Bodrum, Türkiye
2018
Contemporary Istanbul, Anna Laudel, Istanbul, Türkiye
Dalyancı Konağı, Eskişehir, Türkiye
Nurol Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
Arda Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
2017
Evvel, İş Sanat Kibele Art Gallery, Istanbul, Türkiye
Avun-ma, Şevket Sabancı Culture and Art Center, Bodrum, Türkiye
Ahval, Odunpazarı Contemporary Art Gallery, Eskişehir, Türkiye
Cube Gallery, London, United Kingdom
2015
Ellerin Büyüsü, Folkart Gallery, İzmir, Türkiye
German Consulate General Summer Residence, Istanbul, Türkiye
2013
Arete Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
Forum Gaziantep, Gaziantep, Türkiye
Bornova Municipality, İzmir, Türkiye
2012
Takı-Antika Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
Tarsus AVM, Tarsus, Türkiye
2011
Fiktion Okzident, CerModern, Ankara, Türkiye
Fiktion Okzident, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Tophane-i Amire, Istanbul, Türkiye
2010
Leonardo Art Gallery, Istanbul, Türkiye
TerraCity, Antalya, Türkiye
2009
Gözde Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
Kefaluka, Bodrum, Türkiye
2008
Galeri Işık, Istanbul, Türkiye
R.C. Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
Batıbirlik Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
2007
Gallery Selvin, Istanbul, Türkiye
Takı-Antika Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
Orkun Ozan Art Gallery, Antalya, Türkiye
2006
PG Art Gallery, Istanbul, Türkiye
2005
Yaşar Education and Culture Foundation, İzmir, Türkiye
Cream Art Gallery, Istanbul, Türkiye
2004
Gözde Art Gallery, Ankara, Türkiye
Crowne Plaza, Istanbul, Türkiye
2000
Garanti Sanat, Istanbul, Türkiye
1998
Galerie Tammen & Busch, Berlin, Germany
1992
Gallery Urart, Ankara, Türkiye
1990
German-Turkish Cultural Centre, Ankara, Türkiye
Galerie Ultim Art, Paris, France
1987
Galerie Hohenfelde, Hamburg, Germany
1984
Apex, Göttingen, Germany
1980
Galerie Türkay, Stuttgart, Germany
1979
Volkshochschule Weinheim, Weinheim, Germany
1978
Elefanten Press Galerie, Berlin and Hamburg, Germany
PUBLIC WORKS
Yeter has realised numerous works in public and architectural contexts in Germany and Türkiye, including five murals, two ceramic façades, two mosaic panels and one sculpture in Berlin, as well as three murals in Darmstadt.
Between 2006 and 2012, he created numerous sculptures and reliefs for architectural and public settings across Türkiye, including projects in Mersin, Denizli, Aydın, Trabzon, Ankara, Bursa, Tarsus, Gaziantep, Diyarbakır, Nevşehir, Istanbul, Bodrum and Antalya.