Artist’s Statement
I make wall pieces pairing clay and wool, materials both timeless and ancient that connect me to the material culture of my birthplace, Turkey. I grew up surrounded by mesmerizing kilims and exquisite tiles. While my work doesn't conform to any single tradition, it is deeply grounded in reimagining this heritage.
My process begins with the precise construction of a rule-bound, geometric order on a ceramic surface. I then follow my intuition to find moments of idiosyncratic and unique expression by iteratively exploring variations in the color and texture of needled or wet-felted wool. This juxtaposition of order and freedom results in a sensory-rich interplay of contrasting visual and tactile impressions.
My training and practice as an architect deeply inform my process. Some years into my academic research, I discovered that the remnants of architectural heritage I studied were in fact objects of desire for a creative pursuit. I am drawn to making work that carries echoes of past cultures and dream-like memories of places real and imagined, offering the viewer a sense of belonging.
Biography
Seher Erdogan (she/her) is a Philadelphia-based Turkish artist, architect, and educator whose sculptural wall pieces combine clay and wool. Seher grew up in Istanbul, immersed in the cultural heritage of the Near East which continues to deeply influence her work.
Seher received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in architecture at Yale University, and practiced architecture in New Haven and in New York before transitioning to teaching. Following many years of exploration with different mediums, she began to focus on her current creative practice in 2019.
Seher has exhibited her work at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show and American Craft Council "Craft Made" Show and produces architectural commissions for private clients. She continues to teach architecture at University of Pennsylvania and makes art in her studio located in Germantown.