Ilhan Berk (1918–2008), was one of Turkey's most influential and innovative poets. He was born in the Aegean city of Manisa, and was the award-winning author of more than two dozen books of poetry, as well as volumes of critical and biographical prose. He was also an acclaimed visual artist. He died at the age of 89 in August 2008, having lived out his final years in the city of Bodrum.