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Salih Zeki Sayar

Salih Zeki Sayar is a sculptor and ceramic artist who translates the inspiring textures of nature  and the depths of human experience into expressive ceramic and mixed-media forms. As the co founder and artist of MUSZ Studio since 2021, he has developed a distinctive artistic voice that  merges traditional ceramic techniques with experimental approaches, bringing imaginative  narratives to life through clay and beyond. 

Sayar is an adjunct professor of ceramics at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where he  leads students in mastering the fundamentals of clay while encouraging them to push  boundaries through interdisciplinary exploration. He inspires students to view art as a means of  storytelling and to see their creative process as a bridge between the tactile and the conceptual. 

Currently, Sayar holds a studio residency at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, where  his practice thrives amidst a vibrant community of artists. Here, imagination takes shape and  creativity finds its home. His studio is a place of continuous experimentation—a space where  clay becomes a medium to question, reflect, and connect with others.

Each piece begins as a seed of an idea-sometimes a fleeting thought, sometimes a pressing  question, and it takes shape in an ongoing dialogue between vision, hand, and matter. I seek to  dissolve boundaries between mediums, allowing each concept to guide the form it requires. My work often navigates contrasts-smooth and rugged, delicate and bold—but beyond these  surfaces, I aim to ignite curiosity and provoke thought. My studio is not just where objects are  made; it is a space where stories breathe, shaped by hands and set into permanence, ready to  resonate with those who encounter them. 

Clay is my foundation, but it is merely a starting point. In my world, the elements converge, and  from their union, new beings are born-enigmatic characters, guardians, and travelers of  imagined realms. They emerge from fire, traverse water, and carry the spirit of earth and air.  These figures become the storytellers of my practice, embodying resilience, vulnerability, and  hope. Through them, I give voice to the invisible and power to the ordinary, reweaving familiar  truths into new narratives. Each creation invites the viewer to step beyond reality and wander  into a world where the impossible feels within reach.

Rising from the Depths

Rising from the Depths

Ceramics, h10 x w14 x d10 inches

Thorned Awakening

Thorned Awakening

Polyester, h30 x w16 x d 10 inches

Whisper of Shadows

Whisper of Shadows

Ceramics 12h x 16w x 11 d inches

Call of the Bronco

Call of the Bronco

Ceramics, h11 x w17 x d8 inches

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105 N. Union, Studio 315

Alexandria, Virginia 22314

​Van Landingham Gallery

105 N. Union St

Studio 311

Alexandria, Virginia 22314

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