Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, Umut Demirgüç Thurman builds upon her background in textile design in her jewelry and metalwork. Learning is a life-long process that evolves through continual exploration in the studio, both as an instructor as well as a maker. The unique experience of creating beautiful objects by hand is a continual inspiration.
After earning her MFA in Metalsmithing & Jewelry from the University of North Texas, Umut returned to Istanbul to coordinate the Enameling & Metalworking Studio at The Glass Furnace. For more than ten years, Umut has been teaching a wide range of techniques utilizing enameling, metalworking, and fiber-based techniques, both in Turkey and USA.