Early Years
Annie Deneyici’s artistic journey began in primary school, where she filled her notebooks with landscapes and flowers, experimenting with colour, form, and composition. At the end of each school year, her teachers kept these notebooks as examples for other students, drawn to their careful presentation, visual rhythm, and artistic detail.
Years later, Annie created a series of gentle animal paintings for her son’s nursery, rekindling her lifelong passion for art.
Education and Artistic Foundations
At the age of twenty-five, Annie began studying at Mimar Sinan University’s Faculty of Fine Arts, where she dedicated a year entirely to academic drawing. She later returned to painting with a deeper focus on oil techniques and continued her studies at the Istanbul Academy, where she eventually became an assistant in her class.
During this period, Annie represented her university at fine art fairs and developed a strong interest in portraiture. Several of her works were exhibited and featured on television, marking an important stage in her artistic career.
Spain: Teaching and Creative Growth
After moving to Spain, Annie continued to refine her practice while hosting art workshops in her home studio. She taught both children and adults, many from international families, and organized summer camps and exhibitions.
During these years, she accepted commissions in portraiture, landscape, pop art, and surrealist styles, further expanding her artistic range and establishing an international clientele.
Major Commissions in Istanbul
One of Annie’s most significant projects was a horse-themed collection exhibited at a local restaurant in Istanbul. The response was immediate and deeply encouraging: every painting in the series sold, leading to numerous new commissions.
Shortly afterward, Annie received a major commission for Hotel Sultania in Istanbul. For the hotel’s themed rooms, she created forty-five portraits depicting the wives of Ottoman sultans, completing the entire project in just six months. Hotel Sultania later received four consecutive Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards.
Following the Hotel Sultania project, an Armenian Church commissioned Annie to create religious icons on wooden panels. These works included portraits of Jesus and various saints, extending her artistic practice into sacred and symbolic portraiture.
International Exhibitions and Collections
Annie’s paintings have been exhibited and collected in Istanbul, Spain, Toronto, Montreal, and Miami, as well as by private collectors around the world.
A New Chapter in Canada
After moving to Canada, Annie began reflecting on her new surroundings through painting. This period inspired the creation of the “OH Canada!” collection and a series dedicated to Canadian wildlife.
Her first Canadian exhibition took place at The Pilot, one of Toronto’s oldest pubs and a venue known for supporting local artists since the 1980s. Annie became the first artist in The Pilot’s history to sell an entire exhibition.
She later created the “Spirit Animal Collection,” which also sold out completely.
The next work was unique. She was commissioned to create horse and landscape paintings as set decor for the Netflix series Black Mirror.
Recent Work
Among Annie’s later bodies of work is “Impactful Icons,” a series of thirteen black-and-white portraits depicting historical figures who left a profound mark on humanity. The collection reflects on legacy, influence, and the enduring presence of these individuals in our collective memory.
After a while, Annie received a very special commission to create for her son ilkay, about his powerful spiritual awakening. "Rebirth"
Her most recent work, “The Book of Divine Connection,” brings together spiritual connection, human presence, and symbolic storytelling through Annie Deneyici’s evolving visual language.
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