Since 1991, Evren’s published work has focused on literature, contemporary art and political theory. He has produced numerous works spanning novels, short stories and poetry, as well as essays, critical studies, anthologies and children’s literature.
Evren’s essays have been collected in the volumes Aranan Kitap (2007; 2016), Buluntu Kitap (2017), Kırılgan Kitap (2019), Dokunan Kitap (2019), Günümüzde Sanat ve Deneyim (2021) and Sanat ve Anlamın İnşası (2024). His art criticism has appeared in numerous publications, including ArtUnlimited, Framework, İstanbul Art News, Kunstforum, Milliyet Sanat, Sanat Dünyamız, Springerin and Third Text. He has written texts for various exhibition catalogues; contributed a text to the publications of each of the 11th and 13th Istanbul Biennials; edited all publications of the 14th Istanbul Biennial; and served as consultant for the Poetry Channel programme at the 17th Istanbul Biennial. He curated Şener Özmen’s Filtresiz (Arter, 2016), Zihnini Kilitle (sox 36 and Apartman Projesi, 2004; with Stephan Kurr) and Go Get Them Tiger! (2013; with Burak Delier).
Evren has written and edited numerous publications on art and contemporary art and worked with Halil Altındere on several books on contemporary art in Türkiye. His monograph on Altındere, Kayıplar Ülkesiyle Dans (2008), was also published. Together with Aylime Aslı Demir, he edited various publications and co-curated the sixth edition of the international literature festival Read My World in Amsterdam, which focused on Turkish literature. His most recent translation on art from English into Turkish is Linda Nochlin’s Women, Art, and Power and Other Essays, published in Turkish in 2020.
He completed his PhD in political science at Loughborough University in the UK in 2012, examining the relationship between avant-garde art and radical politics. He has given seminars on modern art, sociology of art and contemporary art at numerous institutions, including SPOT, Istanbul Modern, Kültür University, Hayat Bilgisi, Kadıköy Moda Sahnesi, Hayy and Mahal. Since 2016, Evren has been part of the Publications team at Arter.
Süreyyya Evren provides mentoring support for Hüseyin Turan.