Nurettin Erkan graduated in 1993 from the Department of Painting at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, formerly known as Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts. While still a student, he held his first solo exhibition in 1992 at the Istanbul Press Museum. That same year, he founded the Akdeniz School of Fine Arts, where he began teaching painting. Approximately 1,500 students attended his courses, many of whom later pursued professional careers in the art world, both in Turkey and abroad.

In 2003, Erkan was invited to London for his first international exhibition. Since then, he has held numerous solo exhibitions and participated in group shows across Europe, especially in cities like London and Istanbul.

In 2005, he was elected to the executive board of the Turkish Committee of the International Association of Plastic Arts, affiliated with UNESCO. During this period, he curated large-scale exhibitions both at the association’s gallery and at the TÜYAP Istanbul Art Fair, one of the most significant art fairs in the region and in Europe. At TÜYAP, he also exhibited a monumental painting-installation measuring 6.5 x 25 meters (82 ft.), in memory of the civilians killed during the massacres against the Kurdish people. In addition to these exhibitions, he organized conferences and art workshops, and contributed critical writings to exhibition catalogues.

In 2006, he was invited to participate with his works in the 5th International Drawing Biennial held in Plzeň, Czech Republic. His works for this biennial were exhibited at the West Bohemian Museum. Before moving to the United States, he exhibited large-scale conceptual painting-installation works at several biennials and art fairs, including Istanbul Contemporary and TÜYAP Art Fair.

To date, Erkan has exhibited his work in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Greece, the United Kingdom, France, Moldova, and the United States. His works are included in important collections, and his writings and interviews have been featured in numerous newspapers and art magazines. He currently lives and works in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.