about

Hi! I’m Ceren—a color-obsessed, espresso-fueled art tornado

Let’s cut the “artiste” pretence: I make abstract paintings because rules bore me, and beige walls should be illegal. My mission? To weaponize joy through explosions of color that kick blandness in the teeth.

Why abstracts?
Because life’s too weird for straight lines. A crumpled bus ticket, the way sunlight hits a puddle, that feeling you get when your cat judges your life choices—that’s my fuel. I’m here to trap those messy, magical moments in acrylic and chaos.

Process? More like controlled mayhem.
I’m basically a mad scientist with a paintbrush. My studio arsenal: acrylics (obviously), burlap, gravel, metal scraps, and whatever my toddler hasn’t glued to the wall. I start with a vibe—maybe a Queen bassline or the memory of Istanbul’s spice markets—then let the painting boss me around until it screams “STOP!” (This could take hours or weeks. I’m a patient hostage.)

The best part?
You get to be my co-conspirator. That splash of crimson? Maybe it’s your first love. That scribble of gold? Your pandemic rage turned confetti. Abstract art is a Rorschach test with better decor credentials.

Final confession:
I don’t believe in “finished” pieces—just pauses in the conversation. So let’s talk. Or better yet, let’s paint.

A. Ceren McKay

ARTIST BIO

A. Ceren McKay is a multidisciplinary artist whose career spans theatre, music, and contemporary visual art. A graduate of graphic design (BFA, 1998), she honed her craft as a guest artist at Stockholm’s prestigious Royal Institute of Art, specializing in experimental printmaking and digital media. Over nearly three decades, Ceren has merged her theatrical roots with bold visual storytelling, earning recognition for her dynamic abstract paintings and mixed-media works.

Her professional journey includes freelance graphic design for Scandinavian magazines, multimedia training at TTG Sverige AB, and solo exhibitions in Gothenburg (photography) and Stockholm (graphic art), alongside group shows across Sweden and Canada. A member of Artsco, the Lake Country Art Gallery, and the Alternator Contemporary Art Centre, she has showcased her work in exhibitions such as Arts on the Avenue, Lake Country Art Gallery Members Exhibitions, Alternator RedDot and Artscape Culture days-Downtown Gallery.

After relocating to Canada in 2008, Ceren channeled her creative exploration into painting, establishing her Kelowna-based studio in 2012. Her work—a reflection of cross-cultural narratives shaped by life in Turkey, Sweden, and Canada—has solidified her presence in British Columbia’s art scene. Today, she focuses on abstract acrylic compositions while collaborating with local galleries, mentoring emerging artists, and drawing inspiration from the Okanagan Valley, where she lives with her husband and daughter.

ARTIST STATEMENT