FUREYA KORAL
1910
She was born in Büyükada, Istanbul. Her father was Emin Koral, Atatürk's comrade-in-arms and her mother was Hakiye Koral, the daughter of Şakir Pasha, one of the prominent figures of that era. Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı (Fisherman of Halicarnassus) was her uncle, and Fahrunnissa Zeyd, one of the first female painters graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts and Aliye Berger, famous engraver and painter were her aunts.
1919
When she was nine years old, she met Atatürk when he came to their house. When he learned that she played the violin, Atatürk wished her success. She later found that the person she admired so much that day was Atatürk.
1927
She graduated from Notre Dame de Sion High School and continued her education at the Department of Philosophy of Istanbul University.
1935
She married Kılıç Ali, one of Atatürk's comrades-in-arms. During her marriage, she organized dinner parties for Atatürk and other politicians, artists, and literary figures until Atatürk's death.
1940 - 1944
She worked as a music critique at the newspaper, Vatan and made translations from French.
1947
She went to Switzerland to receive treatment for tuberculosis. She started to work with ceramic to keep her occupied there but soon realized that this was her mission in life.
1949
She went to Paris and opened a workshop and self-trained there for one and a half years.
1951
She opened her first exhibition in Paris. Her works attracted unexpected attraction and there were positive comments about her exhibition. She returned to Türkiye the same year and opened an exhibition in Istanbul. She then became the first female ceramic artist of Türkiye.
1955
She won the silver medal at Cannes International Ceramic Exhibition, 1962’de she won the gold medal at Prague International Ceramic Exhibition.
1955 - 1975
She decorated inner and exterior surfaces of several buildings with large size ceramic wall panels. With these works, she integrated traditional ceramic art into the architecture.
1981
In 1981 she received a special award from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and in 1986 she received Sedat Simavi Foundation Plastic Arts Award.
1997
Füreya Koral who trained many successful ceramic artists in her workshop died but she continues to inspire the artists of the future...
