18.10.2026 12:00
Süleyman Saim Tekcan, one of the pioneering figures of Turkish original printmaking, has passed away at the age of 86. His family announced the news of his death, drawing attention to the legacy he left through his works and the artists he trained.
Painter, educator and institution founder Süleyman Saim Tekcan, one of the pioneering figures of Turkish original printmaking, passed away at the age of 86. His family announced Tekcan’s death on their social media account.
EMOTIONAL FAREWELL FROM HIS FAMILY
The family’s post included the words: “We share with deep sorrow the passing into eternity of our very beloved father, the great master of Turkish art, Süleyman Saim Tekcan.” In the statement, it was noted that Tekcan left a lasting legacy through his contributions to art and education, and the following words were recorded:
“Tekcan, who dedicated his life to art, education and the transmission of cultural heritage to future generations, left behind an indelible and precious legacy with his unique works, the artists he trained and the lasting values he brought to Turkish art history. In this world, people who always place human values before temporary values continue to live on after their bodies return to the soil from which they came. They continue to illuminate their surroundings through the works they leave behind, the people they train and the lives they touch. We bid farewell with love and respect to the great master who dedicated his life to art and service to humanity. May God envelop him in His mercy; may his resting place be paradise and his station exalted.”
HE FOUNDED IMOGA
Born in Trabzon on October 6, 1940, Tekcan graduated from the Painting and Crafts Department of Ankara Gazi Education Institute in 1961. The artist, who conducted research on printmaking in Germany, contributed to the development of original printmaking in Turkey through his works and the students he trained.
Tekcan founded the Istanbul Museum of Graphic Arts (IMOGA) in 2004. Known not only as a painter and printmaker but also as a film actor and academic, Tekcan was honored with the Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Award in 2022.