FROM MAÇKA SANAT GALERİ:
“Füreya Koral with Her Unseen Works” Exhibition on the 100th Anniversary of the Republic
October 3 – November 11, 2023

Maçka Sanat Galerisi celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Republic with Füreya Koral, the first female ceramic artist of Republican Turkey and a pioneer of contemporary ceramic art. Her extraordinary life, inspiring struggle, and passion for ceramics have made her an unforgettable figure in Turkish art history.

Füreya Koral, whom Atatürk noted in his diary, “Ms. Füreya, the duty you are to perform for the nation is important. Never forget this even for a moment. The nation expects a lot from you. Work and prepare accordingly,” broke new ground in ceramic art with her large-scale wall panels. She stated, “For me, integrating ceramics into architecture is not about making it decorative. Let me clarify this once and for all. For me, making a wall, integrating ceramics into architecture is a tradition; creating something based on tradition.” Between 1954 and 1975, Koral created ceramic panels for the interiors and facades of numerous buildings, significantly contributing by bringing traditional tile art into modern architecture.

The exhibition at Maçka Sanat Galerisi features works from some of her projects, including Hilton Hotel, Divan Hotel, KA Han, Turkish Pavilion at the Brussels Expo, Marmara Hotel, Hacettepe University Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul Manifaturacılar Çarşısı, Ziraat Bank, Başak Insurance, Anafartalar Çarşısı, Sheraton Hotel, and Beytem Palas, presented as paintings made by the artist herself.

In addition to these previously unseen works from the Rabia Çapa collection, the exhibition also includes a portrait of Füreya Koral by Fahrelnissa Zeid, ceramic casts of her hands made by Candeğer Furtun, and the documentary “Füreya” prepared and presented by Zuhal Demirarslan.

Following Füreya Koral’s solo exhibition at Maçka Sanat Galerisi in 1985, and the “Tribute to Füreya Koral” exhibition in 1992 for her 40th year in art—which featured 40x40 cm panels by 40 ceramic artists alongside her work “Walking People”—the gallery now presents “Füreya Koral with Her Unseen Works” from October 3 to November 11, 2023, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Republic.