Asuman Dogan

Asuman Dogan, a Turkish-Canadian watercolour artist and sculptor, Born in Izmir, Turkey, in 1963, Asuman graduated from the Dokuz Eylul University in Buca, Izmir where she studied Fine Arts with a speciality in painting and sculpture. Asuman continues to work on her art form. Her painting style has developed over the years, and the subject matter reflects the richness and inspiration of the countries in which she has travelled. Asuman is a full-time working mother of two sons.

Asuman has a profound regard for her Turkish heritage and this sentiment is revealed in her painting. Through her choice of subject she sensitively captures the essence of a traditional way of life that is quickly disappearing.

The panoramic scenes of a small town, the towering minaret of the neighbourhood mosque, the narrow streets and buildings of the small Anatolian villages, all uniquely convey a deep appreciation for the heritage of her country. While her style and particular use of colour, shadow and light is semi-expressive, her work is still an authentic documentation of village life in Turkey. Asuman also enjoys painting still life. Her treatment of these subjects is both creative and imaginative, enhanced by the same technique of loose washes of contrasting colours that bloom into each other, creating a sense of both solidity and transience.

Although Asuman’s sculptures focus primarily on the female form and traditional village women, her subjects are actually symbolic of the universal struggle of women. Her medium is clay, her fingers are her tools; the result, a figure expressive of both raw vitality and pathos. Critics have likened her style to Rodin.

Following graduation, Asuman travelled extensively. She studied village life throughout her own country, and lived abroad to experience other cultures first hand. Asuman researched most major art museums in Europe and North America. She has dual citizenship and is has maintained an active membership in the Federation of Canadian Artists and Oakville Art Society. Her exhibitions continue to take her to many of the larger cities in Turkey, Europe and North America.

Asuman married another Turkish artist, Atanur Dogan in 1987, while still at university. They have two boys, Atas, born in 1990 and Ata, born in 1997. After university, Asuman taught art for five year at the high school level and most recently at the American private school in Izmir. She and her husband own and operate the Dogan Art Gallery in Karatas, Izmir, where examples of their paintings and sculpture are exhibited. Her work enriches many Turkish and foreign collections around the world.

In September 2008, the Dogan family relocated to Oakville, Ontario. While their eldest son attends the Media Arts program at Sheridan College, the couple intends to continue to create their watercolor art and to become involved in the art society of eastern and central Canada.


Website: www.doganart.com Email: asuman_atanur@yahoo.com Ph: 905-334-4231