SABİHA ZİYA BENGÜTAŞ
1904
She was born in Istanbul. She started her education in Eyüp Sultan Numune Elementary School. Due to his father Ziya Bey's work, she continued her education for 4 years in Damascus.
1920
She enrolled in the painting department of Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi (School of Fine Arts). When her talent in sculpture was noticed, she was transferred to the sculpture department one year later together with 3 male students. She became the first female student of the sculpture department!
1922
Her first exhibition was 4th Galatasaray Painting Exhibition which she participated with a bust.
1923 - 1924
She won the talent competition in the school and the prize was art education in Europe. However a male student was sent to Europe instead of her.
1924
She graduated at the top of her class. And she became the first female sculptor of Türkiye! This time nobody could stop her from training in Ermenegildo Luppi's workshop at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. She worked as the assistant of the famous Italian sculptor Pietro Canonica who made the Republic Monument on Taksim Square.
1935
She opened a personal exhibition in Ankara.
1938
Her sculpture called Mother's Head was exhibited in Museum of Oriental Art in Moscow. She came the first in the competition organized to make the sculptures of Atatürk and Ismet Inönü. She drew the sketches of the sculptures of Atatürk and Inönü in Türkiye and made the sculptures in Rome. The sculpture of Atatürk called Atatürk Monument is in the garden of Çankaya Mansion Museum. The sculpture of Inonu called Truce Monument is exhibited in Mudanya.
1941 - 1960
She lived and worked abroad. She made busts and paintings of many famous people including Ahmet Hâşim, Bedia Muvahhit, Prof. Dr. Âkil Muhtar, Ali Fuat Pasha.
1965
She opened her last known exhibition in Ankara.
1991
She was given the certificate of honour by the Plastic Arts Society.
1992
Sabiha Bengütaş died in 1992 and many female sculptures have followed her lead...
