Gokden Alpman Matthews – Herstory

This exhibition round includes works provided by Gokden Alpman Matthews which will be on view in the Third Floor East Gallery from September 2 – November 21, 2026.  Lowe Mill A&E invites patrons and art lovers to join us for Open Studio Night, a building-wide experience when our over 150 studios will be open to the public.  The evening also includes receptions for all seven of our gallery spaces. This series gives the public a chance to meet and interact with visiting artists and discuss their work as it is on display and available for purchase. Come out, enjoy a pleasant evening, and maybe you’ll find that special piece of art that speaks to you!  The Open Studio Night reception is Saturday, November 21 from 5-7 pm.

 

About the exhibit:

The earliest known female historians include Ban Zhao, who lived in China in the 1st century AD,  and Anna Komnene, who wrote in the Byzantine Empire in the 12th century. Apart from them, the histories of many famous women, Helen of Troy, Hürrem Sultan, Elizabeth I, and Catherine the Great  of Russia have largely been passed down to us through the writings of men. 

We know that the word history comes from the Greek historia, meaning inquiry or investigation, and  passed through Latin and French before entering English. Yet, in my opinion, the word itself has  been metaphorically monopolized by men. 

His story. :))) 

History has so often been told from a man’s perspective. Perhaps that is why many historical events  seem to lack a woman’s voice and perspective. But even the history of women when recorded  predominantly by male historians can it truly have been conveyed in its entirety? 

What about the women’s stories that never reached us because they were not considered  important or noteworthy enough to be recorded by male historians? 

In this exhibition, you will encounter the stories of women whose names may not appear in history  books, yet whose lives and presence have been preserved in mosaics, tiles, frescoes, and  paintings.

 

About the artist:

Gökden Alpman Matthews began her ceramic education at Anadolu University’s Faculty of Fine  Arts in 1989, graduating in 1993 and earning her master’s degree in 1997. Her graduate research  focused on the history, processing techniques, and chemical composition of Egyptian clay and  tiles. As part of this work, she conducted research at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the  Brooklyn Museum in New York and developed her own Egyptian clay formula, which she used to  create and exhibit ceramic jewelry. 

After completing her education, Gökden worked in several ceramic factories in Turkey, managing  product design and development while continuing her artistic research, publishing articles,  exhibiting her work, and pursuing doctoral studies. In 2004, she opened her first ceramic studio in  Istanbul, producing ceramics for museum and gift shops and creating custom ceramic and mosaic  wall panels for hotels and private institutions. 

Since 2009, Gökden has worked from her studio at Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment in Huntsville,  Alabama. She is best known for her distinctive ceramic mosaic panels and sculptures, particularly  her celebrated “Kaftans,” which combine small, colorful, individually shaped ceramic elements in  a patchwork-like composition. 

Her work is strongly influenced by the cultural and historical richness of her homeland and often  explores identity, migration, and cultural unity. Through ceramic mosaic and patchwork techniques,  she brings diverse elements together into cohesive compositions, reflecting her belief that different  cultures and identities can retain their individuality while forming a harmonious whole.