Hulis Mavruk was born in Southern
Turkey in 1952. A self-taught artist, Mavruk has been painting since
the age of 6, providing him with the means to continually refine his
technique. In Turkey, he had a gallery and portrait studio on
Incirlik Air Force Base, where U.S. Air Force officers actually paid
him to do their portraits.
Hulis Mavruk's respect for the African American community dates from
this period, when many of his customers were African American Air
Force officers. Since moving to the United States in 1972, he has
embraced the African American community by painting images
portraying African American leaders, religious ideals, and family
life. Mavruk believes that his work can inspire young African
Americans to take pride in their heritage and try to emulate their
leaders.
