Şafak Çatalbaş graduated from Marmara University’s Faculty of Fine Arts, Film and Television Department in 2003. She received her master's degree from Yıldız Technical University, Art and Design Department in 2007. 

Çatalbaş's works are based on performative process where she deals with borders, gates, scales, several zones of transition, awareness of inner and outer space, the irrational within the rational and vice versa, language and body as fields of power and resistance. Her recent exhibitions include Conversions (solo), Açıkekran New Media Arts Gallery, Istanbul (2014); Private Nationalism, Ostrale’014, Dresden, Germany; Pécs Gallery m21, Pécs, Hungary (2014); Stay With Me, Apartment Project, Berlin (2014); Mamut Art Project, KüçükÇiftlik Park, Istanbul (2014); Bufferzone: Check Point, Apartment Project, DEPO, Istanbul (2013); Offside Effect, 1st Tbilisi Triennial, Center of Contemporary Art, Tbilisi, Georgia (2012). 

Şafak Çatalbaş lives and works in Istanbul. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Art Practice at Yıldız Technical University.