Incollect Magazine - Issue 10

Incollect Magazine 89 Leila Heller Gallery Artist: Melis Buyruk Melis Buyruk is an emerging Turkish ceramist whose work “everyone needs to know about,” says Leila Heller, one of the world’s foremost dealers of art from the Middle East region. “Her unique approach to ceramics merges intricate craftsmanship with Surrealist and organic forms, pushing the boundaries of traditional ceramics and sculpture,” Heller explains. “Her works explore the intersection of nature and humanity, often blending botanical and anatomical forms to create provocative sculptures. This conceptual depth, combined with her technical mastery, has made her a standout artist in our gallery.” Heller has exhibited Buyruk’s effusively floral ceramic sculptures internationally, including at prominent art fairs such as Art Dubai and Abu Dhabi Art. Her works have been bought by collectors and museums internationally — one of her more meticulous pieces, titled “Kalila Wa Dimna,” 2020, made of porcelain and gold, was acquired for the permanent collection of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a milestone for a Middle Eastern artist. “She is the only contemporary Turkish artist in the Louvre’s collection,” Heller says. Blooming Pearl, 2024. Porcelain, fiberglass, brass, 50 x 40 x 25 cm. Blooming Snake, 2024. Porcelain, stoneware, 27 x 26.5 x 15 cm.