--- title: Ayatollah Sümer slug: ayatollah-sumer-eb681 url: /detay/ayatollah-sumer-eb681 type: biography language: English entity: primary: Ayatollah Sümer type: biography categories: - name: Painting, Sculpture And Photography slug: resim-heykel-ve-fotografcilik url: /kategori/resim-heykel-ve-fotografcilik tags: - Art Group - Ayetullah Sümer - Fine arts - izmir author: Yahya B. Keskin created_at: 2025-12-01T11:24:57.539101+03:00 updated_at: 2025-12-01T11:24:57.539116+03:00 image: https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/07/01/KgdVlspvcPB4Zzd0pi0jbykmesPgppOX.png --- # Ayatollah Sümer > Ayetullah Sümer (1905–1979) is a Turkish painter shaped by French art education. He is known for his realistic portraits and hazy atmospheric landscapes. He taught for many years at the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts, founded the 'As Group,' and made significant contributions to Turkish painting art. ## KURE Information Cards ![aaaassüm.jpg](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/06/28/bT9TEB06xEAps2cpSMUeFZvYPSiDWljt.jpg) *Ayetullah Sümer* | Field | Value | |-------|-------| | Date of Birth | 1905 | | Place of Birth | İzmir | | Date of Death | 1979 | | Place of Death | İstanbul | | Education | Marsilya Ticaret Okulu | ## Article Content [Ayetullah Sümer](/en/detay/ayetullah-sumer-9f000/llms.txt) was born in [İzmir](/en/detay/izmir-f24b5/llms.txt) in 1905. After completing his primary and secondary education in [İzmir](/en/detay/izmir-archaeological-museum-97ff5/llms.txt), he went to France in 1925. While continuing his studies at the Marseille School of Commerce, he developed an interest in painting and joined Théophile Bérengier’s studio at the Marseille School of Fine Arts until 1927. In 1928, he held his first solo exhibition at the İzmir Türk Ocağı and decided to devote himself entirely to art. That same year, he traveled to Paris on a state scholarship and worked on frescoes with Paul-Albert Baudoüin, head of the fresco workshop at L’École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. ![Image](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2026/02/11/ayatollah-sumer-eb681-fener%20logolu.jpg) *Fener Mound - Culture Portal* ### **Career and Artistic Activities** After returning to Türkiye, Sümer settled in Istanbul and established a fresco workshop at the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts in 1938. He served as a faculty member there until 1971 and continued teaching. In 1939, he was selected as one of the painters for the People’s Republican Party’s National Tours. During this tour, he traveled to Afyon, where he produced sketches and paintings. In 1943, he exhibited his works in his apartment in Şişli and, together with his students, formed an art group called the “As Group.” ### **Artistic Approach and Works** Ayetullah Sümer is known for his realistic portraits, but his works generally feature landscapes and still lifes that evoke a hazy, desolate, and mystical atmosphere. The hazy atmospheres and dominant dark tones in his paintings have been interpreted as reflecting the artist’s pessimistic and introspective worldview. Among his major works are “A View of Istanbul – 1943,” “Books: The Fairy Tale of Life – 1951,” and “Copper Vessels – 1955.” These works are held at the Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture. Ayetullah Sümer died in Istanbul in 1979. After his death, in 1983, he was awarded the [Osman Hamdi](/en/detay/osman-hamdi-bey-37738/llms.txt) Honorary Award as part of the centennial celebrations of the Academy’s founding. ## Academic Sources and References 4. Culture and Tourism Ministry – Culture Portal. “Nüzhet - Âyetullah Sümer.” Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.kulturportali.gov.tr/portal/nuzhet-ayetullah-sumer. 5. National Palaces / Library and Art Works Directorate – Institute of Archaeology and History of Art (Ministry of Culture and Tourism). “Âyetullah Sümer (1905–1979).” Accessed June 28, 2025. https://arhm.ktb.gov.tr/artists/detail/2172/ayetullah-sumer-1905-1979. 6. Turkish Painting UK. “Âyetullah Sümer.” Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.turkishpaintinguk.com/ayetullah-sumer/.