Deniz Olgaç Ilhan

Deniz Olgaç Ilhan is an Illustrator and Animator born and raised in New York City. He is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art BFA' 19 with a Degree in Animation and a Minor in Illustration.

He also attended the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School specializing in teaching visual arts and performing arts, located in the heart of Lincoln Center. Ilhan’s work mainly focuses on cultural and historical subjects, he is strongly inspired by his Turkish heritage, as well as European history. Cultural exchange has always been very important for Ilhan, as he was always surrounded by different cultures and languages from an early age, as a lifelong resident of New York. Working briefly as a political cartoonist for US democratic campaigns as well as Turkish newspapers such as Hurriyet USA, he began using his art for socio-political purposes and depicted many events in our recent history.

His artwork and animations address a plethora of matters, whether they are surreal and sometimes fantastical renditions of historical subjects and events, or sometimes caricatures of politicians and other figures. Ilhan also works as a marketing manager for DROM, a world-renowned music venue located in the heart of the East Village, that focuses on world music from all around the globe. He wishes to educate future audiences through his art, and writings and entertain their curiosity about learning.