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     I am Turkish, I am a ceramic artist, and I am born of clay! I am from the ancient Anatolianlands that have been called home by Hittites, Ionians, Greeks, Romans, Seljuks, Byzantines, Ottomans, and Turks, to name a few. This is my cultural and artistic DNA, which was instilled in me during my undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Marmarra in Istanbul. I think it is part of myartist responsibility to draw from the previous generations and – through my hands, eyes, and heart – carry that wisdom and spirit into the future, which I did for over ten years in my ceramics gallery in Kusadasi, Turkey. 

     And now, America is my New World. As I mix my Turkish past with many new American influences, I love the new artistic recipe that I’ve created. In a way, I have become a sort of Turkish artistic ambassador to America. 

     I see many things, but my subjects select me. I especially feel a deep connection to nature. It moves through me, and I strive to express this feeling in my work. I love the organic feeling of clay, knowing that it comes from the earth. And just as nature constantly surprises and delights me, I often include small, whimsical surprises in my ceramics. After all these years, I still love to play with clay. I still love the shape the mud with love.