Bilal Yılmaz (1986) is an interdisciplinary artist based in Istanbul. He mainly uses his engineering background and experimental production methods to transform his research experiences to artistic narratives. Alongside his interdisciplinary art works and designs, he develops social and collective projects creating impact through artistic approaches.

He studied Information Systems Engineering at Boğaziçi University (Istanbul) and Computer Science at Binghamton University (New York), and he received an MA in Industrial Product Design from Istanbul Technical University. His interdisciplinary interests and education are reflected onto his work, which oscillates between art, design, engineering, craft and social engagement. His practice is largely aimed at finding and uncovering the potentials that are hidden because of the contemporary social, political and financial reality, as well as on experiential and collaborative learning and making. In his socially engaged projects, he therefore aims at creating tools that activate possibilities and communities through imagining and experimenting with alternative systems of engagement and collective production.

His interest in craftsmanship and making  has led to his collective research project Crafted In Istanbul (2012-ongoing), a mapping project which aims to uncover the social, cultural and economic potential of crafts by bringing visibility to Istanbul’s underground studios and activating creative collaborations. Crafted In Istanbul is featured in Tania Bruguera’s archive of Arte Útil as a “case-study that draws on artistic thinking to imagine, create and implement tactics that change how we act in society”.  The project has gradually evolved into Craft Net (in progress), a systematic approach to reimagine crafts, an open-source platform for building creative communities and networks around crafts to reveal its contemporary potential in post-industrial societies.

Bilal Yılmaz’ s works have been presented among others at the 15th Istanbul Biennale of Contemporary Art (2017), the 2nd Istanbul Design Biennale (2014), Yanköșe (2021), Pera Museum (2023), Istanbul Modern (2024), Çanakkale Biennale (2024). He is regularly invited to give talks and workshops on different aspects of his work in Turkiye and abroad.