A GREAT RESEARCHER SAYS GOODBYE: GONUL ONEY

We lost art historian, writer, researcher, and academic Prof. Dr. Gonul Oney on September 25th. Oney, who made significant contributions to our cultural world with her research on Turkish and Islamic art, also created important resources in the field with her books on Turkish tile and ceramic art.

Prof. Dr. Gonul Oney, who made significant contributions to the cultural world, including Turkish tile and ceramic art, with her countless books and studies, passed away in Izmir on September 25, 2025, at the age of 93. Oney, who worked for many years at Ankara and Ege Universities, was honored with the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Ege University Distinguished Service Medal.

Gonul Oney contributed to the ceramics literature with her books, including "Canakkale Ceramics of the Turkish Period" (1971), "Turkish Tile Art" (1976), "Ceramic Tiles in Islamic Architecture" (1987), "Turkish Pottery" (Tokyo 1985), "Islamic Architecture in Tiles" (1987, Tiles in Islamic Architecture 1977), and "Turkish Tile and Ceramic Art" (1993). Oney also co-authored the following books on ceramics: Turkish Tiles and Ceramics- Sadberk Hanim Museum (Canakkale Ceramics, 1991), Turkish Art from the Beginning to Today (Turkish Tiles and Ceramic Art, 1993), Bursa (Bursa Tiles, 1996), The Story of Ottoman Tiles and Ceramics (The Place of Canakkale Pottery in Ottoman Ceramic Art, ed. Ara Altun, 1998), The Story of Tiles and Ceramics in the Ottoman Empire (The Place of Canakkale Ceramics in Ottoman Art, ed. Prof. Dr. Ara Altun, 1998), Fascinating Turkish Ceramics-From Byzantine Era to Ottoman Empire (Canakkale Pottery, 2002), Ottoman Civilization (Tiles and Ceramics, v. 2, eds. Halil Inalcik-Gunsel Renda, 2002), Anatolia in the Seljuk Age (Anatolian Seljuk Ceramic Art and the Seljuk Figurative World, ed. Dogan Kuban, 2002).

Irreplaceable person

The passing of Gonul Oney has caused great sorrow in the world of culture and art. Art historian Nezih Basgelen expressed his deep sorrow, saying, “One of our country's exceptional values. One of the pioneers in many areas of art history, who successfully represented our country both in the scientific field and in the international arena with her books, articles, and studies, and who trained dozens of students and academics, our dear Professor Dr. Gonul Oney has passed away. She was an irreplaceable person in her field.”

Prof. Dr. Zehra Cobanli, with whom she co-authored the book "Turkish Period Tile and Ceramic Art in Anatolia," said the following: "She was a scientist who left a deep mark on my academic life. Years ago, when I was at Anadolu University's Faculty of Fine Arts, I invited her to Eskisehir to give a lecture. She was gracious, and she and her husband, Mr. Dogan arrived in their newly purchased red car. I can still remember the excitement and heartfelt delivery she gave during her lecture. Her works and books have always been our references. We met at many conferences, spoke, and occasionally debated art historical terminology. Our most important collaboration was preparing and writing the book "Turkish Period Tile and Ceramic Art in Anatolia." She authored important works on fields such as Anatolian Seljuk architecture, tile, and ceramic art, and made invaluable contributions to the field of art history.”