Afyon Marble Transformed into Art at International Symposium

Between 10 September and 10 October 2025, the Afyonkarahisar International Marble Sculpture Symposium is turning Afyon marble into permanent sculptures shaped by artists’ hands. The event brings together the city’s rich natural resources and contemporary art, while also highlighting both the quality of Afyonkarahisar marble and the city’s cultural potential.

Organised by Afyonkarahisar Municipality and the City Council, the symposium is taking place at the Afyonkarahisar Motor Sports Centre between 10 September – 10 October 2025. The aim of the symposium is to connect Turkey’s long-standing marble tradition with contemporary artistic expression.

A jury of leading experts

The artist selection process was led by a jury of renowned academics and sculptors, chaired by Afyonkarahisar Mayor Av. Burcu Köksal. Members included:

• Prof. Dr Ş. Ebru Okuyucu – Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts, Afyon Kocatepe University

• Prof. Dr Arzu Atıl – Head of Sculpture Department, Faculty of Fine Arts, Dokuz Eylül University

• Prof. Dr Mustafa Bulat – Head of Sculpture Department, Faculty of Fine Arts, Atatürk University

• Assoc. Prof. Dr Osman Yılmaz – Faculty of Fine Arts, Erciyes University

• Assoc. Prof. Dr Selçuk Yılmaz – Faculty of Fine Arts, Anadolu University

• Dr Ayla Torun – Faculty of Design and Architecture, Istanbul Atlas University, Co-founder C4CCI

• Sezer Sancar – Art Consultant and Artist

Record applications, careful selection

The symposium attracted strong international attention: 126 applications were submitted from 36 countries, including 110 from abroad and 16 from Turkey. The jury met in Afyonkarahisar between 22 and 24 August and carefully selected 10 principal and 2 reserve artists. Marble blocks from Afyon have been placed at the venue, and the artists began their work on 10 September.

Selected artists

1. Hiroyuki Asakawa – Japan

2. Ivan Tsiskadze – Georgia

3. Tutu Pattnaik – India

4. Ulises Jiménez Obregón – Costa Rica

5. Wiktor Kopacz – Poland

6. D. Tülay Özkul – Turkey

7. Ebru Akıncı – Turkey

8. Hanife Neris Yüksel – Turkey

9. İlhan Kaya – Turkey

10. Nesrin Karacan – Turkey

Reserve artists: Martha Quinn – Ireland; H. Mollaei Foomani – Iran

Sezer Sancar: “Afyonkarahisar has a special spirit”

Symposium art consultant Sezer Sancar said:
“This marble comes from Afyonkarahisar. There are many different and beautiful types here. The city also has a special spirit that reaches back to Phrygia and the War of Independence. Our artists reflect this touch in their works. Considering all of this, there is no reason why Afyonkarahisar should not be known not only for its marble but also for its marble sculptures. Especially at a time when art is being pushed out of daily life, this contribution is very valuable for art and artists.”

“Global interest exceeded expectations”

Sancar also noted the remarkable international attention:
“A total of 126 artists applied for the first symposium. We received applications from 38 different countries, including some we never expected. For this, I would like to thank Afyonkarahisar Municipality, the City Council, and our London-based partners Turkish British and C4CCI for their valuable support.”

“It should become a tradition and an open-air museum”

Sancar emphasised the need for continuity:
“The symposium must become a tradition, held every year. This means ten sculptures this year, twenty next year, and in ten years a hundred. These works should be displayed in an open-air museum. Currently, there is no contemporary art museum here, and if Afyonkarahisar achieves this, it would be a first in Turkey.”

Hanife Neris Yüksel: “Afyon marble is invaluable”

Hanife Neris Yüksel, a lecturer at Akdeniz University and one of the Turkish participants, highlighted the suitability of Afyon marble for artistic work:
“I already use Afyon marble in my own practice, in my university, and with my students. It can truly be described as one of the most valuable resources we have. Especially as a sculptural material, Afyonkarahisar marble provides a strong, complementary factor in both the shaping process and the final presentation of the work. It allows you to achieve exactly what you aim for.”

Tutu Pattnaik: “An honour to take part”

Indian artist and retired professor Tutu Pattnaik shared his experience:
“It is an honour for me to take part in this symposium. I am very happy. I had heard of Afyonkarahisar marble before, and I knew it was of high quality. Now I have the chance to experience it first-hand.”

Wiktor Kopacz: “The variety of stone surprised me”

Polish artist Wiktor Kopacz expressed his amazement on his first visit to Afyonkarahisar:
“We came here to do what we love. We came to this beautiful city to create sculptures. Afyonkarahisar has many different kinds of marble. I had heard a lot about them before coming. Now, together with my colleagues here, I am working on bringing out my sculptures.”

What to expect at the symposium

Under the artistic consultancy of Sezer Sancar, the Afyonkarahisar International Marble Sculpture Symposium will continue until 10 October 2025. Visitors can watch the sculptors at work on site, and at the same time enjoy the city’s rich culinary heritage at the Gastronomy Festival, also taking place in September. Afyonkarahisar is recognised by UNESCO as a Creative City in the field of gastronomy.