Füreya Koral

Pronounced “Fuereya Korhal”

“What’s traditional in Anatolian land is not three-dimensional forms, but wall tiles” she said, referring to ceramics. With a passion to reflect her roots, she concentrated her early career on creating ceramic wall panels for the public eye. One of the pioneering ceramic artists of Turkey, Füreya had struggled to find a kiln in Istanbul at the beginning of her career in the late 40s. 

“I am now ready for my third marriage. With earth and glaze, glaze and fire, a final marriage that will last a lifetime with ceramics.”

It was now 1965, 18 years had passed since Füreya touched clay for the first time. She was introduced to clay by her aunts Aliye Berger and Fahrünissa Zeid (Farhelnissa Zeid), whilst in hospital confinement suffering from Tuberculosis at the age of 37. 

But it wasn’t until she opened her first studio-flat at this place, the ground floor of her family home, that she was able to recreate herself as a bohemian, left-leaning, open-minded artist. It was a space so small that she had to share her bedroom with her kiln, but this didn’t stop renowned artists and art-lovers to meet here regularly to discuss their life experiences, latest projects, and occasionally politics.

Poster of Füreya’s solo exhibition, Mexico, 1957

Cover design for Oktay Rifat’s poetry by Füreya, 1952

She came from a prestigious family, who lived at a critical time of transition from Ottoman Empire to Turkish Republic. Many of whom went on to become cultural and artistic treasures to their land, shaping art and literature in Turkey and beyond. 

Two-time divorcee at the time of finding her passion, she said “I am now ready for my third marriage. With earth and glaze, glaze and fire, a final marriage that will last a lifetime with ceramics”.¹

By 1992, she had long moved out of this space, and was exhibiting her new and final body of work, alongside works by forty artists who joined the exhibition With Respect to Füreya Koral on her 40th Year in Art. She was a legend who had a tribute to her life’s work, whilst still alive.

A more recent exhibition of her work is available as a virtual tour through this link with special thanks to the Kale Group.

[1] Kulin, A. (2000) ‘Füreya’ Remzi Kitabevi,
Photo Credit in order of appearance:
Eliza Day Archive of SALT Research (1965) | Unknown Photographer | Yildiz Moran (1955)