Özlem Çelik, Illustrator
An Artist of the Everyday
I have been drawing since I first held a crayon. For nearly three decades, art journalling and illustration came and went in my life—until, over the past five years, they settled into a daily practice. Since then, I have been drawing almost every day, as an art and travel journalist of my own life.
Style
My work embraces immediacy and imperfection, transforming ordinary scenes into intimate visual narratives shaped by how I see and experience the world. My drawings reflect a commitment to presence, slowness, and the quiet beauty of the ordinary, sometimes finished with a subtle touch of gold.
Inspiration
While based in Finland, I am inspired by multiple geographies—especially the blue of the Mediterranean Sea, the Greek islands, and the colourful corners of cities, from Estonian streets to southern coastal landscapes.
Materials
I work primarily in small notebooks, drawing directly on location in cafés, parks, public transport, and other lived spaces. I begin with ink—without preliminary sketches—and then build layers of color, allowing the image to unfold in the moment.
Exhibition
🗓 Exhibition: 1–31 May 2026
🎉 Opening: 2 May 2026, 16:00
📍 Location: Sörkan Ruusu,
Pääskylänrinne 3, 00500 Helsinki