R. Tan Buğra Özer was born in Istanbul in 1987 and spent his childhood studying in various cities across Turkey. After completing his primary and secondary education in Erzurum, Kayseri, and Ankara, he began high school at İzmir Maltepe Military High School and later graduated from Ankara Bahçelievler Deneme High School. His passion for art led him to pursue a degree in the Ceramics Department at Anadolu University Faculty of Fine Arts in Eskişehir, from which he graduated in 2010. To further his expertise in art, he joined the Master’s program in Ceramics at Hacettepe University Faculty of Fine Arts in 2011, graduating in 2014. That same year, he began his Proficiency in Art program at the Hacettepe University Institute of Fine Arts in Ceramics, serving as a Research Assistant in the department until his graduation in 2018.
Throughout his artistic career, Özer has participated in numerous noteworthy exhibitions and projects both in Turkey and abroad. He has held three solo exhibitions, including one on an international level in Greece, and has taken part in over fifty exhibitions, workshops, and symposiums, sharing his knowledge and skills in ceramic art. He currently works as an Assistant Professor at Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University Faculty of Art and Design. His works are represented by Galeri Soyut, further solidifying his presence in the art world.
Faith plays a significant role in Özer’s artistic approach. His works focus on themes of ritual and belief, drawing inspiration from historical sites such as Göbekli Tepe. This 12,000-year-old site holds symbolic importance in his practice. By interpreting its figures within historical and mythological contexts, Özer brings the sacred guardians of the past into the present. Joseph Campbell’s words—“Where there is a great tree, an upright stone, a pillar, or a sacred hill, there spirits ascend and descend between heaven and earth”—resonate deeply within his work.
Through these themes, Özer reimagines humanity’s ancient belief systems and rituals in a modern artistic language. This profound engagement with spirituality and ritual imbues his work with both historical depth and contemporary relevance, garnering admiration from art enthusiasts and critics alike. His collaboration with Galeri Soyut has helped his works reach wider audiences and has reinforced his significant position in the art world.