Eren Eyüboğlu is an artist born in Romania, renowned for her paintings and mosaics that blend Anatolian culture with modern art. Beginning her artistic journey with formal training in Paris, she continued her career in Türkiye, making original contributions to 20th century Turkish painting through both private and public works.

Early Life and Education

She was born in 1913 in the city of Iași, Romania, under the name Ernestine Leibovici. She graduated from the Iași Academy of Fine Arts in 1928. In 1929 she moved to Paris where she studied painting for four years in the atelier of André Lhote. During this period she became familiar with Impressionism and Cubism, deepening her artistic understanding.

Migration to Türkiye and Marriage

In 1936 she married the Turkish painter and poet Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu, whom she met in Paris. After marriage she settled in Türkiye and adopted the name “Eren” upon converting to Islam. Her mother-in-law’s tolerance and cultural influence played a decisive role in this transformation. She began her artistic career in Istanbul.

Eren Eyüboğlu’s Landscape Work (Türkiye Culture Portal)

Artistic Philosophy and Style

In Eyüboğlu’s art the Anatolian people, particularly the female figure, hold a central place. Anatolian folklore rural life and cultural motifs form the core themes of her works. In the 1950s her copies of paintings by Matisse Braque and Picasso in Paris introduced a structural solidity to her art. She developed a distinctive style by combining her Impressionist-derived color sensibility with figurative expression.

Wall Paintings and Mosaics

Together with her husband she produced significant mosaic panels and wall paintings in Türkiye and abroad. Her major works include:

• Etibank (Ankara 1953)
• 4th Levent Housing Complex (1956–57)
• Hacettepe Hospital and Children’s Hospital (1954–55)
• Turkish Pavilion at the Brussels World Fair (1958)
• Istanbul Textile Merchants Complex (1963–65)
• Cerrahpaşa and Haydarpaşa Chest Diseases Hospitals (1970s)

Anatolian Impressions and Travel

In 1942 she traveled across Anatolia as part of the “Yurt Gezileri” program. During these journeys she observed women working in the Aegean region rural life in the Black Sea area and folkloric scenes in Central Anatolia incorporating these impressions into her art.

Exhibition of Two Captive Hearts (Anadolu Agency)

International Exhibitions and Artistic Legacy

She held exhibitions not only in Türkiye but also in countries such as England Germany Belgium and the United States introducing her art in cities including New York New Jersey and Berkeley. Beyond painting she was also prolific in ceramics gouache charcoal and watercolor techniques. In 2018 the exhibition “Eren Eyüboğlu – Life and Works” opened at CerModern featuring 205 works and became the most comprehensive retrospective of her art to date.

Death and Legacy

Eren Eyüboğlu died in Istanbul in 1988. Her works are now exhibited in numerous public and private collections including the Ankara State Museum of Painting and Sculpture. She holds a place in art history as one of the female artists who united the spirit of Anatolia with modern art.