Murat Morova draws on themes such as the coexistence of East and West, the relationship between the inner and outer self, mysticism, tradition, the body, Islam, and Sufism in his artistic practice. While engaging deeply with these spiritual and cultural sources, he simultaneously incorporates materials discarded by industrial society -such as nylon, tar, and fiberglass- into his works. Through this juxtaposition, Morova develops a distinctive visual language that brings together calligraphy, traditional crafts, and symbolic forms. Embracing a heterodox Islamic aesthetic, the artist places strong emphasis on tradition, memory, and continuity. His compositions merge Sufi thought with a rich array of symbols and references, creating multilayered works that explore spirituality, materiality, and cultural hybridity.
Born in 1954, Murat Morova graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Marmara University in 1977. He held his first exhibitions in 1987–1988. His works were included in the 2nd Istanbul Biennial in 1989 and were presented at the Turkish Pavilion of the Venice Biennale in 2001, curated by Beral Madra. In the same year, he participated in the exhibition Signs of the City at the Bonn Art Museum, exhibiting photographs in which he staged his own image moving across the walls of the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul. In 2004, drawings exhibited at Galeri Nev Istanbul were compiled into a limited-edition silkscreen series titled Ah Min’el Aşk-ı Memnu. Morova’s solo exhibitions have been held at institutions such as Urart Art Gallery (Istanbul), Galeri Nev (Istanbul and Ankara), and Galeri Siyah Beyaz (Ankara). His works have been featured in numerous group exhibitions and biennials, including those at Pera Museum (Istanbul), Espace Culturel Louis Vuitton (Paris), Depo (Istanbul), Martin-Gropius-Bau (Berlin), Kunstraum Palais Porcia (Vienna), The Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art, the 2nd Buenos Aires Biennial, Borusan Art Gallery (Istanbul), Mekan 68 (Vienna), Müze Evliyagil (Ankara), and Arkas Art Center (Alaçatı). Morova’s works are included in prominent institutional collections such as the British Museum (London), the Huda-Samia Farouki Collection (New York), Baksı Museum (Bayburt), Art in Embassies (USA), and Westdeutsche Landesbank (Germany). He received the Ustaya Saygı (Respect to the Master) Award in 2015 and the Doğan Değer Award in 2025.