Welcome to my little corner of the world! My name is Çiçek; hear the pronunciation here!

I am an archaeologist, art historian, and a multimedia visual artist. My academic work looks at the art of bodies and emotions, funerary practices, myth, storytelling, and womxnhood, gender, and sexuality. I completed my B.A. in art history and archaeology, and earned my Ph.D. in Classics and archaeology. Since then, I’ve held fellowships and taught at various institutions, including the Getty Research Institute and New York University. I am currently based at Brown University.

My art focuses on similar themes as my academic interests, with the addition of the exploration of my Turkish-born American identity and my diasporic journey across lands and cultures. I am a self-taught artist and I often identify as part of the modern iteration of the “outsider” art movement as I work at the margins of an industry with strong gatekeeping mechanisms. My current obsession in my creative practice is incorporating needlework into my paintings—this is both an homage to my cultural heritage and to generations of women in my family who worked with threads and fabrics all their lives, even though their work was never considered art. I draw inspiration for my designs from Turkish embroideries as well as traditional Turkish ceramics and manuscript illustration.

Although I work mostly in 2D media, I am currently experimenting with ceramics and developing ways to marry embroidery and clay. This process is compelling me to think through 20 years of archaeological experience with ancient pottery!

I live in Providence, RI, and exhibit my work across New England. For inquiries about my work or cultural programming (including lectures, curatorial projects, and juror work), please reach out at cicekbeeby(at)gmail(dot)com.