Today we’d like to introduce you to Gozde Kaya Hepisler
Hi Gozde, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in the lively city of Istanbul, where I developed a love for art and design. I studied Interior Architecture, which let me explore my creative passions. During my studies, I got the chance to live in Germany and Spain, which widened my views and enriched my design skills.
After graduating, I worked as an interior architect and furniture designer for almost eight years, a job I loved. In 2018, I wanted a new creative outlet and started working with ceramics as a hobby in the studio of Turkish artist Aslı Aydemir in Istanbul. I quickly fell in love with ceramics, finding a new way to express my creativity and bring joy to my life.
In 2019, I moved to Houston, Texas, because of my partner’s job. Soon after, the COVID-19 pandemic made it hard for me to find a job as an interior architect. So I decided to transform one of our rooms into a ceramic studio and kept following my passion. I started making figurative sculptures and gifting them to friends, which made me very happy.
Also, inspired by the cultural importance of the evil eye—a symbol of protection from negativity—I began creating personalized ceramic objects with this theme. I opened my online shop, The Little Evil Eye, to share my creations with more people. The positive feedback and kind reviews from customers were very motivating. Their support encouraged me to expand my work to include more detailed figurative sculptures.
Today, my artistic journey has two main paths. I collaborate with galleries to show my figurative sculptures, and I run an online business, offering personalized ceramic evil eye objects that bring protection and positivity into people’s lives.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey has been mostly smooth, but it’s not over yet. I don’t like to focus on negative things because they all have a purpose, and I’m thankful for them. They help me grow. When I moved to Houston, if I had found a job as an interior architect, ceramics would have stayed a hobby for me. Instead, the challenges helped me turn ceramics into my full-time passion.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I like to describe my work as the imaginary life of imaginary people, and I love to hang out with these imaginary friends. It’s fun to be a part of their lives, imagining the stories they create in their new homes. Working with clay, and sometimes fabric and glass, I make figurative sculptures full of color, which is a big part of my life. I feel like each sculpture is a piece of me, so I give them fun, colorful clothing. When they find a new home, it feels like I’m visiting a new friend’s place, and I imagine them making new memories.
Also, I always use a detail of an evil eye in my daily life as a symbol of protection, and I love incorporating this into my work. I believe it protects me, and creating something that can protect others makes me feel fulfilled. I enjoy touching people’s lives, whether it’s through a wedding favor or a wall decor piece for their new home.
How do you define success?
I believe people often exaggerate the meaning of success. For me, success is about finding happiness in what you do. If you wake up excited to create, and your work brings joy to others, then you are successful. It’s about personal fulfillment and making a positive impact through your art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/gozdekayahepisler/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleevileye/
- Other: https://thelittleevileye.etsy.com/
