Akten Köylüoğlu

Akten Köylüoğlu was born in Gaziantep in 1939. She finished the Institute for Girls. She researched culture in Gaziantep and published books: “Sandıktal, Servet 1, 2 and 3”, which was based upon regional textile design and technique (3 volumes). She learned how to paint from her father and painter, Osman Sakıp Kutlar. In 1989, Köylüoğlu continued her painting work at the workshop of Mizyal Karabiber Nacaroğlu. She has had many solo exhibitions and participated in over 40 group exhibitions. In addition to it, she designed and made gift goods such as traditional folk dolls, peçiç play sets, bags, and Ebru cards, and contributed to the tourism sector in Gaziantep.

Köylüoğlu published her husband Ömer Köylüoğlu’s “Alıp Satmak Yok, Yapıp Satmak Var”. She then published a book named “Kadim Şehir Gazianep”, which was on the general culture in Gaziantep between 1800s and 1900s. She has also published her articles in the magazine “Gaziantep Tarih ve Kültür” (the History and Culture in Gaziantep). Köylüoğlu has been awarded by many associations and institutions, including the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. She was selected one of the “successful 100 women in Turkey” by the Municipality of Istanbul Bayrampaşa in 2001.