Hüsamettin Koçan was born in 1946 in Bayburt. He was a faculty member at Marmara University Institute of Fine Arts for several years, where he served as the dean of the faculty from 1997 to 2005. He completed his research on Turkish Folk Paintings in 1980.He was one of the founders of the UNESCO AIAP – International Association of Plastic Arts, and was the chairman of the Association between 1990-1995. He also founded the Istanbul Art Fair in 1991 and the Youth Action in 1994. In 2005, he brought Baksı Culture and Arts Foundation to life, followed by the establishment of Baksı Museum in July 2010, which won the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) by European Council in 2014. He was awarded with Honor Award by Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) in the same year.He has initiated various projects such as “Sanat Tır” and “Sanat Çadır”, aiming at disseminating art and culture in off-center areas. Granted more than 35 awards, including Salzburg Honor Prize and Asia Art Biennial Painting Big Prize, Koçan has opened 45 solo exhibitions and participated in many national and international exhibitions.