Kutlay Evrensel is a visual artist and lawyer based in Amsterdam, Netherlands and originally from Ankara, Turkiye. His intricate drawings, inspired by mythology, nature, and music, have appeared on album covers, posters, and collaborations with musicians.

In this interview, Kutlay shares how he developed his style, the connection between his legal and artistic work, and his thoughts on AI in art. He also talks about his latest projects, including a graphic novel, and his dream collaborations.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Where are you originally from, where are you currently based, and what is your professional and personal background?

I am a lawyer by day and an artist by night, and sometimes, my two worlds intersect.

I was born in 1998 in Ankara, Turkey; however, my family moved to Istanbul when I was three, and I spent most of my formative years there. I have to admit that Istanbul has had a profound impact on how I perceive things, as the city holds so many realities all at once. In the winter of 2023, I moved to Tilburg, Netherlands, and a year ago, I relocated to Amsterdam.

Over the past three years, I have been practicing law across two jurisdictions, Turkey and the Netherlands. However, drawing has always been with me through every chapter of my journey. Even as I studied and practiced law, my drawings found their place in the corners of law books, on study notes, and anywhere I could sketch, paper, desks, walls, streets, you name it. It has been my constant companion, and like every loyal companion, we have had our ups and downs.

Your style is so unique, detailed, and cool. How did your journey with drawing begin, and what influenced you to develop this particular approach?

I don’t have a vivid recollection of how I started drawing, it feels like I’ve been drawing ever since I first held a pen.

I believe my style is less of a conscious choice and more of a reflection of my inner world. It has always been there, evolving naturally with me. I recently found some pictures of my drawings from when I was 10, and honestly, it doesn’t look like I’ve covered a long distance. The language, shapes, symbols, and even the figures are pretty much the same as they are now.

I have always been fascinated by animals, mythology, religion, and nature. As a kid, real life often seemed incredibly boring to me, I constantly craved more. As soon as I learned how to read, I threw myself into mythology and religious books, until I discovered metal music and Tolkien. I think this is a safe space to admit that I was still playing with toys until I was 15. I would assign personas and motivations to each toy, creating elaborate stories around them, some of which lasted for months. While other kids played with car toys and action figures, my world was filled with dragons, monsters, and fantastic creatures.

I believe that being bored at home at an early age and immersing myself in imaginative play shaped my creativity. In some way, those early experiences continue to guide my work today.

What inspires you creatively? Whether culturally or personally, is there a specific process or ritual you follow when searching for inspiration?

That’s a great question, but I’m not sure I’m the best person to answer it. I usually feel inspired when I have something to express, something that I can’t put into words but can only convey through drawing. It’s a feeling of transformation, of something waiting to take shape.

When I experience this feeling, I often find myself chasing a certain emotion, idea, perspective, or even a deeper understanding. I consider this a gift, as even a simple conversation or a melody can spark something in me and keep me inspired for months.

I believe that the entire history of human civilization, its discoveries, and inventions, stems from something within us. That same thing has built the most sophisticated structures, composed the most beautiful music, turned stones into masterpieces, and created all forms of art. Inspiration, to me, is having access to that thing and catching those ideas like catching a fish.

You’ve collaborated with musicians, designers, and others. What has been your favorite collaboration so far? And if you could choose, who are your top three dream collaborators?

It is really difficult to answer this, as I feel that every collaboration, I’ve done so far reflects different sides of me.
The collaboration I did with Develer was the beginning of many things when I think about it. The drummer of Develer, Kerem Duru, is my childhood friend, we literally grew up side by side, inspired by the same sources, listening to the same music, and admiring the same people and ideas. He had a huge influence on my music taste and understanding. As we grew older, he started playing in Develer, and my drawings naturally found their way onto their album covers.

I also became very close friends with the other members of Develer and started using their studio in Şişhane Çinili Han as my workspace during my time in Istanbul. During that period, they were brewing the Fauna album, and I was there to witness every single moment of its creation, visualizing every melody on my tablet as I listened. One of my most memorable experiences was during one of their long rehearsals for a concert, I was in the control room sketching freehand while they played in the live room. By the time their rehearsal ended, the composition for the Fauna album cover was complete. It was truly a magical experience.

Further, we created a screen-printed poster of the artwork in Kadir Çıtak’s atelier. Kadir also has been a significant mentor in my journey, introducing me to the world of screen printing. We also printed merchandise t-shirts and tote bags, essentially creating a full merchandise pack for Develer. It was such a wholesome collaboration, both emotionally and creatively.

As for my dream collaboration, it’s hard to narrow it down to a top three, but if I had to name one, working with Tool would be incredible. Their music, themes, and visual aesthetics resonate deeply with me, and I can only imagine the kind of immersive, intricate artwork that could emerge from such a collaboration. Their approach to sound and symbolism aligns so well with my artistic vision that it would feel like the perfect fusion of music and visual storytelling.

So, are there any exciting upcoming projects, exhibitions, or collaborations you’d like to share with us?

My collaborations with Gaupa and some other bands I cannot reveal at the moment are still ongoing. However, these days, I am more focused on my solo projects and my work as a lawyer. I have also started working on a short graphic novel, an idea I’ve had for a long time. I feel like I’m in a phase where I’ve turned inward, reconnecting with my inner self.

As both an artist and a lawyer specializing in AI image training and its legal considerations, what advice would you give to artists interested in exploring emerging tools?

I think the best advice I can give is to develop a solid understanding of the technology and, most importantly, to read the terms and conditions of these tools before rushing into using them. Many platforms have strict terms and conditions that can significantly undermine your copyright.

While these tools offer great convenience by saving time, and energy, and even enhancing creativity for many, it is crucial to use them with awareness. Human nature tends to favor ease, and the more we rely on something, the more it evolves, while the less we use certain skills, the more they risk deterioration. I believe technology should be a tool that empowers rather than diminishes us. By using it consciously and understanding its implications, we can find a balance between efficiency and maintaining our creative autonomy.

🌱 For more of Kutlay’s work, take a look at his Instagram!