The 1st International Muğla Ceramics Symposium, which brought together Muğla’s millennia-old ceramic tradition with contemporary art, concluded after two weeks of intensive production, knowledge sharing, and intercultural interaction. Held under the leadership and guidance of Betül Demir, a faculty member at the Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Ceramics Department, the symposium saw the creation of 10 original artworks with the participation of 11 artists and 12 assistants.
Organized through the collaboration of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, and Menteşe Municipality, the 1st International Muğla Ceramics Symposium took place from August 15 to 30, 2026, at Narlı Kahve in the Karabağlar Plateau.
Realized under the theme "An Ancient Heritage from Ages Past to the Present: Ceramics," the symposium merged the millennia-old cultural memory of ceramics with diverse forms of contemporary artistic expression, while simultaneously showcasing Muğla’s historical and cultural richness on an international art platform.
An international gathering led and guided by Betül Demir
Conducted under the leadership and guidance of Betül Demir, a faculty member at the Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Ceramics Department, the symposium brought together artists from various countries and diverse artistic backgrounds in Muğla.
The symposium’s guest of honor was Mehmet Tüzüm Kızılcan, a prominent figure in Turkish ceramic art. At the symposium—featuring Kaan Canduran, Şirin Koçak, Betül Demir, Samet Aygün, Reinhard Keitel, Kseniia Zhizhyk, Chirayu Kumar Sinha, Tevfik Türen Karagözoğlu, Menekşe Eda Öztürmen, and Sedat Çayır—artists from diverse generations and cultures brought their knowledge, experience, and creative practices together under one roof.
11 artists, 12 assistants, 10 original works
Over the course of the two-week symposium, 11 artists and 12 assistants worked collaboratively to create 10 original ceramic pieces.
While each artist worked according to their own artistic language, technique, and unique mode of expression, the accompanying assistants became active participants in the creative process. In this respect, the symposium facilitated not only the creation of artworks but also the exchange of knowledge and experience among established artists, emerging artists, and students.
For two weeks, the Karabağlar Plateau’s Narlı Kahve transformed into an international open studio where diverse languages, cultures, and artistic approaches converged around the shared language of ceramics.
Artistic creation meets the audience
Throughout the symposium, artist presentations, workshops, hands-on production sessions, and ceramic firing processes took place. Visitors had the opportunity to observe the artists' creative processes up close and witness the transformation of ceramics—from raw clay to finished pieces completed by fire.
The artists' sharing of their production methods and artistic approaches elevated the symposium beyond a mere production site, transforming it into a platform for international experience and knowledge exchange. Ancient highland culture meets contemporary art
Narlı Kahve in the Karabağlar Highlands—the venue for the symposium—became one of the key elements defining the event's identity.
A living symbol of Muğla’s traditional highland culture, Narlı Kahve—with its centuries-old trees, traditional character, and natural surroundings—served as the setting for the creation of contemporary ceramic works.
The connection between clay—the primary material of ceramics—and the nature and cultural memory of the Karabağlar Highlands was reinterpreted through the artists' creations.
Symposium concludes with a sculptural kiln firing
The intensive two-week production period culminated on August 30th with an exhibition and a sculptural kiln firing.
The sculptural kiln firing, held after the works created during the symposium were presented to the public, served as the event's grand finale. Clay and fire—the fundamental elements of ceramics—brought artists and the audience together amidst the natural atmosphere of the Karabağlar Highlands.
The sculptural kiln firing was not merely a technical ceramic process; it became a memorable highlight of the symposium, marking an impressive conclusion where fire itself became an integral part of the creative production and artistic experience.
A lasting artistic legacy for Muğla
The inaugural International Muğla Ceramics Symposium went beyond being a mere two-week event; it gifted Muğla ten unique artworks and enhanced the city's visibility in the international arts and culture scene. The works created through the wealth of experience artists brought from diverse cultures, techniques, and artistic approaches formed the initial elements of the enduring cultural and artistic legacy the symposium bequeathed to Muğla.
As the earth’s millennia-old memory was reshaped in the Karabağlar Plateau through the language of contemporary art, the 1st International Muğla Ceramics Symposium marked the first step of a new artistic encounter extending from Muğla to the world.