Who we are

Studio 233, founded in Toronto in 2024 as the artistic collective of Dodo Art Design Inc., specializes in monumental sculpture and design, 3D animation, set and prop fabrication, landscape design, and painting. With a strong academic foundation, the collective combines artistic vision with technical expertise, ensuring that creativity and precision coexist seamlessly. By employing advanced technologies such as 3D printing and scanning, Studio 233 bridges classical sculptural practices with innovative, contemporary approaches. Through this interdisciplinary method, the collective has established itself as a dynamic hub for producing large-scale projects, unique artworks, and creative solutions for both the public and private sectors.

SELIN ALTINAY

Selin was born in 1989 in Istanbul Turkey , Graduating with honors from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Sculpture at Dokuz Eylul University, I bring a multidisciplinary expertise that bridges traditional and contemporary artistic practices. I began my academic journey in 2008 at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, studying Textile and Fashion Design, where I gained extensive experience in fabric types, dyeing techniques, fashion design, and costume production.

In 2011, I took a brief hiatus from my studies to contribute to my family’s hospitality and construction ventures, where I honed skills in project management, team coordination, reporting, and budgeting.

Returning to the arts in 2016, I was admitted to Dokuz Eylul University’s Sculpture program as the top-ranked student. During my studies and following my graduation in 2021, I worked professionally as a master sculptor on monumental commissions and participated in museum projects focusing on hyperrealistic sculpture production. I also produced works for sculpture exhibitions and symposia, and gained extensive experience in stage design, set and prop fabrication for theatre productions, art festivals, and short film projects.

Currently, I am pursuing a 3D Animation program at Centennial College in Toronto, further developing my expertise in digital design and production. My colleagues and professors describe me as organized, collaborative, and a natural leader.

I am also a member of IATSE 873, actively working in Set Decoration, Props, and Greens for professionally produced film, television, and commercial projects in Ontario.

BARIS DIRENC ALTINAY

Barış was born in 1991 in Uşak, Turkey, and moved with his family to Aydın in 1992 due to his father’s teaching post. His father, İsmail Altınay, is a geography teacher, and his mother, Mukkaddes Altınay, a retired nurse of Macedonian Turkish descent. Growing up in both Macedonian and Aegean cultural traditions, Barış developed a deep interest in sculpture from an early age, inspired by his childhood explorations of the ancient cities of the Aegean region.

His late uncle, Mithat Altınay, owned a sculpture studio in İzmir and worked on restoration projects in ancient Mediterranean and Aegean cities. Observing his uncle’s projects, Barış began experimenting with sculpture at the age of twelve. In 2010, he was admitted to the Sculpture Department of Dokuz Eylül University’s Faculty of Fine Arts, graduating top of his class with high honors. From his second year onward, he assisted in monumental sculpture production studios, gaining hands-on experience.

In 2012, he worked as an assistant to Italian sculptor Bettino Mauro Francini at the International Wood Sculpture Symposium organized by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, which gave him the opportunity to collaborate with artists from around the world. In 2013, he traveled to Rome, Florence, and Paris to study public sculptures and museums, gaining a deeper understanding of classical European sculpture.

After graduating with high honors in 2016, Barış joined the opening team of Madame Tussauds Istanbul, where he received specialized training in wax restoration and hyperrealistic painting under Petra van der Meer, Regional Studio Manager of Merlin Entertainment Midway Europe/Euroasia.

In 2017, he returned to İzmir and founded his own sculpture studio, producing monumental works for national and international organizations, and earning recognition through competitions. In 2021, he was appointed Head Technical Supervisor at the newly restructured İzmir Metropolitan Municipality City Theatres, where he managed a team of 13 professionals in stage set production and served as workshop director for three years. Alongside his theatre role, he continued to produce monumental sculpture projects.

In 2024, Barış relocated to Toronto, Ontario, with his wife Selin Altınay, establishing their studio on Carlaw Avenue. He continues to take part in public art and stage design projects across Canada, while also pursuing his personal sculptural practice in their studio. He is also a member of CARFAC Ontario.

DOGUS GUZELKAYA

I was born in 1989 in Izmir, Turkey, and I am now a Canadian citizen. After graduating from the Sculpture Department at Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Fine Arts, I gained experience in various fields of art and design. Theater, art galleries, and especially film productions have been important areas of work for me.

Over the course of nearly 14 years of professional experience, I have worked in sculpture, painting, and stage design. For the past five years, I have been a member of IATSE 873, taking on artistic responsibilities in numerous film projects while also playing an active role in team management. My colleagues describe me as both a creative and well-organized team leader.

I have also served in leadership positions within set decoration teams for large-scale productions, such as Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein.

While continuing my sculptural practice at Studio 233, I have always maintained my technical skills in welding, mold-making, and casting. Thanks to my interdisciplinary approach, I successfully carry out projects of different scales and levels of complexity.

In 2022, I also founded Dodo Art Design Inc., through which I continue to provide both artistic and technical contributions, particularly to the film industry.

PUBLIC ART PROJECTS

The design created by Barış Direnç Altınay was awarded first prize in the Pandemic Heroes Monument Competition organized by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. All stages of the project were subsequently executed in the artist’s personal studio with rigorous attention to detail.

The monument serves as a lasting tribute to healthcare professionals who, at the cost of their own lives, worked tirelessly and selflessly throughout the pandemic. Its composition symbolically conveys the idea that by standing shoulder to shoulder, individuals can overcome even the most formidable challenges through solidarity and collective resilience.

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The work of Barış Direnç Altınay was selected by the jury of the DAEKYO Culture Foundation Symposium, and he was invited as the sole international participant in 2022.

Created for the symposium, this piece depicts a child imagining a goose in their garden as a dragon. While childhood allows us to conjure dreams that give us strength to face challenges, the work reminds adults of the boundless and liberating nature of our childhood imagination. Simultaneously, it emphasizes the importance of retaining the courage to dream like a child even in moments of intense pressure and stress.

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This monument, designed by sculptor Barış Direnç Altınay for a competition organized by the Efeler Municipality of Aydın, was realized to commemorate the centennial of the Republic of Turkey. The Centennial Monument honors the remarkable contributions of 100 individuals who shaped the nation’s first century, excelling in fields such as science, arts, literature, philosophy, economics, the military, and politics. Their names are inscribed across two distinct platforms, representing the diversity and pioneering spirit that defined the Republic’s early development.

Between these platforms, a rock formation features the busts of prominent figures who played key roles during the Turkish War of Independence. Conceived from an aerial perspective in the shape of the numeral “1,” this formation symbolizes the unity and collective effort of the people in achieving this historic victory, while also representing the Republic’s inaugural century—a century marked by resilience, vision, and transformative progress.

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Barış Direnç Altınay’s design was selected for the Izmir and Mythology-themed Bronze Symposium, where he realized the sculpture using classical techniques at the Izmir Fairgrounds. He was the only local artist invited to participate in this international symposium.

His work draws inspiration from Greek mythology, which has deep historical roots in his native land. The composition depicts Eros and a centaur playing the zurna and clarinet, instruments still widely used in local and contemporary culture. Conceived as a dynamic, multi-angled composition, the sculpture not only ensures visual engagement from every perspective but also conveys the vibrant energy and exuberance of music itself.

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These sculptures are replicas of Classical Roman works, commissioned by the hotel administration. Our three-person team meticulously completed their fabrication over a period of five months. The figures were modeled in clay over a metal armature with rigorous attention to detail. Using original photographic references as the primary source of measurement, the sculptures were produced with a commitment to achieving the highest possible fidelity to the originals.

In 2023, UNESCO declared the year as the “Commemoration and Celebration of Aşık Veysel” to mark the 50th anniversary of his passing. My design, created in collaboration with the Aşık Veysel Foundation, his family, and the Municipality of Aydın Efeler, was selected and realized.

Aşık Veysel was a folk poet known for his environmentalism and pacifism. As he was blind, it is often said that he saw the world in its truest form through his heart. Inspired by his deep love for nature, I designed the monument on a rock, depicting him peacefully playing his saz. The figure was shaped in clay over a metal construction, combining both symbolic and material strength.

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