CV

Izmir, Turkey, 1994



Education:

2013-2017
Dokuz Eylül Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of İllustration

2008-2012
Işılay Saygın Fine Arts High School, Department of Painting




Work Experience:

2022- 2026
Blay Games 
Partner /COO /Art Director

2019-2022
MEGAMİ Entertainment
Founder /Art director /Game Designer


Awards:
2021: Eflatun Nuri caricature contest, Poster selection Izmir, Turkey 
2019: TÜBİTAK 1512 Techno-Entrepreneurship Capital Support Program Award Recipient Ankara, Turkey 
2019- Umut Foundation “Disarmament” Cartoon Competition Poster Selected, Izmir, Turkey
2018: 2. International Bilge Şehir Kocaeli caricature contest, Poster Selected, Kocaeli, Turkey
2017: IX International Forum Design Education organized by Kharkiv State Design and Art Academy. 2nd Place Prize, Kharkiv, Ukraine
2017: 24th International Izmir/European Jazz Festival, Poster Selected, Izmir, Turkey
2017: Dokuz Eylül University Faculty Of Fine Arts Best Graduation Thesis Award in the Illustration Department
2016: Global Game Jam Ege, 1st Place Prize Izmir, Turkey 
2015: Build Up 2015 Game Jam 2nd Place Prize, Izmir, Turkey
2015: Global Game Jam Ege 5th Place, Izmir, Turkey 
2014: Build Up Game Jam 3rd Place Prize, Izmir, Turkey 
2014: Dokuz Eylül University Faculty Of Fine Arts Genç Beyin Fırtınası Competition 1st Place Prize Izmir, Turkey 
2010: Karabağlar Övgü Terzibaşıoğlu Anatolian High School Cartoon Competition 1st Place Prize Izmir, Turkey 
2009: 14th Nehar Tüblek Cartoon Competition Special Jury Award, Istanbul, Turkey 
2009: 3rd Buca Municipality Cartoon Competition, Honorable Mention İzmir, Turkey
2007: Izmir Rotary Club Cartoon Competition 1st Place Prize Izmir, Turkey 
2007: Finland 13th International Art Exhibition Painting Competition Bronze medal, Finland
2007:India Shankhar Painting Competition Silver medal, India
2007:İZKUŞ- 1st Izmir Bird Sanctuary Competition Special award, İzmir, Turkey
2007:Buca Municipality Cartoon Competition, Jury special award, İzmir, Turkey
2006:Bangladesh 4th International Children-Art Biennale Painting Competition,Poster Selected, Bangladesh
2006:İzmir Özel Çamlaraltı Collage Painting Competition, 2nd Place Prize İzmir, Turkey
2006:İzmir Deniz Ticaret Odası Painting Competition, 3rd Place Prize, İzmir,Turkey
2005:Bangladesh 3rd International Children-Art Biennale Painting Competition,Bronze Medal, Bangladesh
2005. İzmir Özel Çamlaraltı College Painting Competition, special award, İzmir,Turkey
2005:Özel Piri Reis Cartoon Competition, Achievement award, İzmir, Turkey
2005:Monami Painting Competition, 3rd Place Prize, İzmir,Turkey
2004:Greece Museum And Academy Of Children's Art, Art Exhibition Gold Medal, Greece
2003:Özel Rotary Club Cartoon Competition,Honorable mention, İzmir, Turkey
2003: Başarı Magazine Painting Competition, 1st Place Prize, İzmir, Turkey
2003: 2. International Cartoon Competition, Achievement award, Istanbul, Turkey
2003: International Ankara Cartoon Festival, Poster Selected, Ankara, Turkey
Exhibitions:

2025 – “50 Artists in 50 Years” Exhibition, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Fine Arts, Izmir, Turkey
2023 – “Art Heals” Exhibition (Trendyol & Globart Collaboration for Earthquake-Affected Regions) – Artwork Exhibited, Turkey
2022 – Canlandıranlar Association International Film Festival Exhibition – Artwork Exhibited, Turkey
2021 – “50 Illustrators Together” Exhibition, Kuşadası, Turkey
2019 – Aysel Gürel 90th Birthday Exhibition – Artwork Exhibited, Turkey
2019 – Izmir Cartoon Museum Exhibition (Theme: Violence Against Women) – Artwork Exhibited, Izmir, Turkey
2018 – Izmir Fair – Dokuz Eylül University Thesis Exhibition – Participated with Artwork, Izmir, Turkey
2018 – “Design in Tomtom Street” Exhibition – Participated with Artwork, Turkey
2017 – BASE Istanbul Exhibition (Best Graduation Theses) – Artwork Exhibited, Istanbul, Turkey
2017 – Anatolian Rock Revival Project – Artwork Exhibited, Turkey
2016 – “Monsters by Kid” Exhibition – Artwork Exhibited, Turkey
2003 – Solo Exhibition, Izmir Private Çamlaraltı College, Izmir, Turkey


Interviews- Press:
2026: Milliyet Newspaper Culture & Arts Supplement, Turkey
https://www.milliyet.com.tr/kultur-sanat/29-odulle-adini-duyurdu-7510276
2026: Invited Speaker, 12min Izmir, Izmir, Turkey
https://youtu.be/x9g7Og03cu0?si=7C_fd6p9YL0kcXNH
2025: GOKA Street (Blay Games) was featured by Apple in the App Store editorial “Discover the Rising Stars of Gaming.”
2025: OROBOROS reviewed by Oyungezer (OGZ) – Game Review Feature, Turkey
https://oyungezer.com.tr/inceleme/oroboros-inceleme
2025: Featured on Merlin’in Kazanı: “OROBOROS Demo Now Available on Steam”
2021: Dokuz Eylül University WebTV Alumni Talk – Episode 10, Interview with Maya Bora
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YZIhgvi7tY
2020: Featured in “10 Illustration Artists You Should Follow”, Söylenti Magazine
https://www.soylentidergi.com/takip-etmeniz-gereken-10-illustrasyon-sanatcisi/
2017: Featured in “20 Turkish Illustrators Who Will Take You to Different Worlds with Their Drawings”, Sosyalmedya.co
https://sosyalmedya.co/cizimleriyle-sizi-bambaska-dunyalara-tasiyacak-20-turk-illustrator/
2009: “A Special Guest of Mine: MAYA BORA” Interview, Raşit Yakalı Cartoon School Blog
https://rasityakalikarikaturokulu.blogspot.com/2009/02/mayas-saglam-bir-misafirim-var-maya.html
2007: “Cartoonist Maya” Interview, Hürriyet Newspaper
https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ege/karikaturist-maya-6351351
2007: “They Drew Their Dream of Life in Space” Feature Article, Yeni Asır Newspaper , Izmir, Turkey


Speaker:

2025 – Invited Speaker, 12min Izmir, Izmir, Turkey
2025 – Guest Speaker (Blay games), Yaşar University, Izmir, Turkey
2024 – Guest Speaker (Blay games), Yaşar University, Izmir, Turkey
2024 – Invited Speaker, “Making Games Your Own Way” Event, Izmir University of Economics, Izmir, Turkey
2023 – Invited Speaker, GIST Indiway, Istanbul, Turkey
2020 – Speaker, Panel: “Digitalization and Technology”  İZKA & Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
2019 – Invited Speaker, Izmir University of Economics, Izmir, Turkey
2017 – Invited Speaker, Behance Portfolio Reviews Izmir, Izmir, Turkey


Performing Arts Experience:


2021 – Present  Working professionally with the Nur Niyaz Bilgin Dance Company, performing and training in Classical Ballet and Musical Jazz Dance.
2024 – Participated in the Ceyda Tanc Contemporary Dance Workshop.
2024– Completed Contemporary Dance training with Cansu Ergin.
2023 – 2024 Continued Classical Ballet training with Batuhan Gültekin.
2023 Attended Burcu Olguner’s Classical Ballet Workshop and received a certificate.
2016 – 2018 Continued Classical Ballet training with Başak Güneş Kolcuer.
2015 – Participated in a Martha Graham Dance Company Workshop, earning a certificate.
2010 – 2012 private Classical Ballet lessons with Suna Şenel.
2003 – 2010 Studied Classical Ballet at IDA (Izmir Dance Academy) with Suna Şenel, Şebnem Şenel, and Başak Güneş Kolcuer.
Graduated with an official Ministry of Education (MEB) Diploma.
2002 – 2006 Received Classical Ballet training under Katya Beresit.
1999 – 2001 Trained in rhythmic gymnastics for 2 years. Bornova, Izmir


Selected Stage Performances:

2026 – Bir Yılbaşı Rüyası (Children’s Musical) – Main Cast Dancer İstinye Park, Izmir, Turkey
2025– Feel Good (Jazz Musical Dance Performance) – Main Cast Dancer Aydın Yıldız Kenter & Şükran Güngör Cultural Center, Aydın, Turkey
2025 – Bir Yılbaşı Rüyası (Children’s Musical) – Main Cast Dancer İstinye Park, Izmir, Turkey
2024 – Broadway Jazz Party (Jazz Musical Dance Performance)– Main Cast Dancer İstinye Park, Izmir, Turkey
2024 – Bir Yılbaşı Rüyası (Children’s Musical) – Main Cast Dancer İstinye Park, Izmir, Turkey
2022 – Bir Yılbaşı Rüyası (Children’s Musical) – Main Cast Dancer İstinye Park, Izmir, Turkey
2022 –Musical Jazz Dance Year-End Performance (Jazz Musical Dance Performance) İzmir Sanat, Izmir Fair, Izmir, Turkey

2011 –Year-End Performance – Classical Ballet Işılay Saygın Fine Arts High School, Izmir, Turkey
2010 –Year-End Performance – Classical Ballet Işılay Saygın Fine Arts High School, Izmir, Turkey
2008 –Year-End School Performance – Lead Role
(Classical Ballet & Turkish Folk Dance) Izmir Çamlaraltı College, Sabancı Cultural Center, Konak, Izmir, Turkey

2002 – 2008 Year-End School Performances – Classical Ballet Izmir Çamlaraltı College, Sabancı Cultural Center, Konak, Izmir, Turkey
2003 – 2010 Annual Year-End Performances – Classical Ballet IDA (Izmir Dance Academy), Sabancı Cultural Center, Konak, Izmir, Turkey

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