Artist

MEHMET GURSOY 

Mehmet Gursoy is an internationally acclaimed master of Iznik art and recipient of the UNESCO Living Human Treasures Award, recognised for his role in the preservation and revival of Iznik art through his ability to reconstruct early Iznik Çini production techniques. With more than 35 years of practice, his work is informed by historical research, academic teaching, and professional practice in Ottoman visual culture. 

Through sustained experimentation, Gursoy re-established the traditional techniques of Iznik tile making, including the rediscovery of long-lost colour palettes and the original clay formula. His work plays a vital role in the preservation and revival of the aesthetic principles, patterns, and colours that defined Iznik Çini production from the 15th to the 17th centuries.