Seher Erdogan Studio



Seher Erdogan Studio

About The Artist

Seher Erdogan • Philadelphia, PA
Mixed Media • CUSTOM COMMISSIONS

I am an artist, architect, and educator who explores the pairing of clay and wool in the form of sculptural tiles. Ancient and timeless, both mediums connect me to the material culture of my birthplace, Turkey. The visual and tactile impressions in my work are inspired by artifacts of cultural heritage and ephemeral natural environments. I start each piece by “drawing” shapes on clay slabs, and then iteratively explore variations in the color and texture of needle or wet felted wool.



Connect

Instagram
Artist website
Email

Q&A with the Artist

Tell us how your work is made.

I make sculptural tiles that combine clay and wool, and I consider my process with both mediums as a form of drawing. I typically start each piece by scoring patterns, motifs, or geometric shapes on clay slabs, which become the basis of an iterative process that yields subtle variations. When working with wool I experiment with both wet and needle felting techniques to achieve a variety of textures and colors. This way of working produces one-of-a-kind pieces that form a series.


What makes you passionate about the medium you work with?

My entire creative process from research to sketching to fabrication is a means to connect with the material culture of my birthplace, Turkey, while I express my own voice. After experimenting with many mediums, I felt drawn to combining clay and wool–both ancient and yet timeless materials that provide a link with history. I find the juxtaposition of ceramics and felted wool to yield unique visual and tactile effects.

What is something unique about you or your practice?

Those who see my tiles in person feel tempted to touch them. I find this to be wonderful because I want to make pieces that are visually engaging while also engendering a tactile experience. I am a self-taught craft artist, trained as an architect who also has a career in architectural education. For the last two decades, in parallel to my work in architecture, I have been actively exploring a variety of craft forms to ultimately find my way to tiles. I am delighted and deeply thankful that I get to be an “emerging artist” at this stage in my life.