Ayca Kilicoglu, Founder, Designer and Illustrator, Mur by Ayca (San Francisco, USA)

Years In Industry:
I was born and raised in Ordu, Turkey, and studied Public Administration at university before moving to Istanbul to work in banking customer service. But I always loved art and design, so in 2010 I moved to the US to join my then boyfriend, now husband, Emrah Kilicoglu to pursue my artistic dreams.

I studied English, and then an extension program at UC Berkeley in Graphic Design, before applying to the Academy of Art in San Francisco. I graduated from the Academy in 2018 with a Masters Degree in Graphic Design and Digital Media, and started working as a freelance and in-house graphic designer, but knew I wanted to create my own vision.

Mur by Ayca was founded in 2019 and is named in honor of my late mother, who was always supportive of my work no matter what I was doing. I am back at UC Berkeley teaching Typography and Illustration, and Emrah and I also own Kitchen Istanbul - a Turkish restaurant in the Inner Richmond. Since the pandemic hit, we are in the process of converting most of the restaurant space into a fine wine store.

My Biggest Challenge To Wellness:
Stress is my biggest challenge and has two extreme impacts on me. Either I become completely overwhelmed and cannot create at all, or I pour everything into my art. When the pandemic hit I was so stressed I created more than 60 different patterns in a month, when I would normally make ten. I didn’t want to think about the reality of pandemic so I focused instead on my work and the creative process.
Finally, I can’t resist eating gluten! I eat too much and it makes me tired all the time, but I ignore it because I love it so much.

How I Keep It Together To Stay Well:
Cleaning anything and everything is my daily meditation. I have a place for everything and to feel relaxed, and able to work, I need to have order. Once a space is organized and in order, then I can sit down, clear my head, and create. The canvas has to be blank.

Every morning I take probiotics and prepare a fresh fruit and vegetable juice. My favorite breakfast is a traditional Turkish style with cheese, olives, bread, eggs, mulberry molasses, clotted cream, tahini, and bread. Outside the restaurant I also love to cook and make my own bone broths. We are dealing with the pandemic with juices and bone broth!

When I need to recharge I turn to books on art for inspiration. I learned in art school that everything is inspired by what we had before, reimagined with your own unique vision. I create all the time and I want to share my creativity and design with the world all the time. Every design is a different vision.

You can connect with Ayca on Instagram at @murbyayca Facebook @murbyayca and her website murbyayca.com

You can also purchase the limited-edition ABG "Decanter" mask designed by Ayca at the ABG Shop here.