FEYZ Studio

Feyza Kemahlioglu is the proud owner of FEYZ Studio, a small design company that produces sculptural lighting, furniture, and home decor pieces inspired by her Turkish heritage and culture. Kemahioglu was born and raised in Istanbul; she completed her Bachelor’s of Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University and received her Master’s in Architecture and Urban Design at Columbia University.

Her educational training in architecture, art, woodworking, and glassblowing prompted the young designer to start her own studio where she could focus solely on high quality sculptural pieces that employ her special methods. Even though Kemahlioglu lives in New York, her connection to Turkey and the country’s unique culture is never far from her mind. This link to her country has enabled her to explore traditional materials and methods; often combining those aspects with contemporary techniques that she learned and mastered through her education and life experiences.

In her new studio in SOHO, Kemahlioglu works with artisans to create evolved pieces that feature exquisite hand-crafted elements. It is those small details that make her items so special. The designer is also adept at playing with scale and color that she translates to her beautiful and functional designs.

Her childhood took place on the cobblestone streets of Istanbul; courtesy of Collecto World, “The quality of hand craftsmanship in Turkey is impeccable, and I think it makes everything more special.” With some of the world’s most recognizable architectural gems such as the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia in close proximity, Kemahlioglu’s appreciation for beauty overflows.

Kemahlioglu has always appreciated being surrounded by history from so many distinct eras; among which are the Ottoman, Byzantine, and European empires. However sadly, over time the stunning craftwork created in the small ateliers near the Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar were disappearing.

Using meerschaum, a soft, white, claylike matter that consists of hydrated magnesium silicate material endemic to Turkey, the designer was able to turn an antique craft into a production of contemporary items that appeals to many. Meerschaum is hand-excavated and hand-carved; the perforations made are to emit light. Courtesy of Surface Magazine, “From afar, the whole piece seems solid, but upon closer examination, the intricate hand-carved floral and graphic patterns become visible with the flowing light shining through.”

Paying tribute to Istanbul, the designer debuted the Pillars of Meerschaum in 2021. The unusual word means “sea-foam” in German, this adds an additional international flair to the already worldly piece. Carved with intricate patterns and perforations to diffuse light, the stone joins the hand-blown glass and brass elements that were designed and constructed in New York. The combination of the elegant glass and the Meerschaum detailing is stunning.

Marrying the old and the new, a timeless design was created. Luckily, the style is one that has not been overplayed. The Sunset Drive Collection is part of the collection and Kemahlioglu describes it as such, “I wanted to create a play of light and shadow. I had this picture of driving during sunset, enjoying the cloud formations, when cars pass by and you see moments of the bright headlights of cars passing by. I wanted to create a collection of pendant lights that are meant to be experienced from different angles and distances.”

Lighting aside, our favorite piece is the Cut Vase; the collection via experimentation that centered around manipulating the thickness and surface of hot glass. Manipulating the hot material creates a rippling effect that resembles an ocean’s undulating waves. It is clear that Kemahlioglu is on to something special… her style of combining texture and color has a unique ethos; even better is that the end-result produces pieces that are both functional and beautiful.