The artist with the bust of Ahmet Haşim
Sabiha Ziya Bengütaş, born in Istanbul in 1904, occupies a singular place in Turkish art history as the first female sculptor of Turkey. Her journey was marked by boldness, determination, and a steadfast commitment to her craft in a field long dominated by men.
Sabiha Ziya Bengütaş in her studio
Bengütaş began her education in Istanbul and, due to her father’s assignment, spent formative years in Damascus. Returning to Istanbul, she entered the Sanayi‑i Nefise Mektebi (School of Fine Arts) in her mid-teens, initially studying painting. During her early assignments, she demonstrated an instinctive talent for sculpture—so striking that she was allowed to transfer to the sculpture department, becoming the first female student among three male peers.
Sanayi‑i Nefise Mektebi (School of Fine Arts) is still one of the best art schools in Turkey, located in one of the most beautiful spots of the city overlooking the majestic Bosphporus.
In 1924, she received a state scholarship to study at the prestigious Rome Fine Arts Academy, where she honed her skills under Italian masters such as Ermenegildo Luppi. Her training abroad laid the foundation for a career that would merge technical precision with a deep understanding of form and expression.
Bengütaş with Atatürk’s sculpture
Bengütaş’s oeuvre spans busts and monumental sculptures, often depicting prominent figures of the early Republican era. In 1938, she won competitions to sculpt Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and İsmet İnönü; the Atatürk statue was placed in the garden of Çankaya Mansion, while İnönü’s work found a home in Mudanya.
Bedia Muvahhit was one of the first Turkish muslim actresses
Her sculptures are celebrated for their warm realism and subtle expressiveness. Notable examples include busts of poet Ahmet Haşim, playwright Abdülhak Hâmid Tarhan, and pioneering actress Bedia Muvahhit. In Istanbul, her works, such as Bedia’nın Başı, can be found in museum collections, offering a tangible link to her early artistic environment.
Make sure to visit Painting and Sculpture Museum in Istanbul located in Kabataş close to the first Art School of Istanbul where Bengütaş studied.
Although many of her major public commissions reside outside Istanbul, the city remains central to her story. It was in Istanbul that she received her formative education and joined the art academy. Several of her early works and busts are preserved in Painting and Sculpture Museum as well as other art museums in Istanbul. Walking through the streets and institutions that shaped her early career allows one to trace the footsteps of this pioneering artist.
Sabiha Ziya Bengütaş stands not only as an accomplished sculptor but as a trailblazer who opened the doors for women in Turkish art. Her life and work exemplify how talent, perseverance, and vision can reshape cultural landscapes.
Through her sculptures, Bengütaş left a dual legacy: she documented the faces and ideals of a young republic, while also embodying the courage and creativity of a woman who dared to sculpt her place in history.
“Art must first of all be personal,” she once said—a credo that defined both her life and her work.
We owe her and her generation of women a profound debt of gratitude for paving the way for us to live, work, and create on equal terms with men.
Sabiha Ziya Bengütaş in roaring 20’s that changed Turkey forever
