From Altai to Kaʻala — a journey carried in color, fabric, and breath.

A woman in a blue and white floral dress stands at an easel, painting or drawing, in a room with large windows and wooden accents, overlooking a landscape outside.

ABOUT STUDIO KŌLEA

Studio Kōlea is the art practice of Ezgi Iraz, an Oʻahu-based artist and photographer originally from İstanbul, Türkiye.

She studied graphic design in Türkiye and Milano, and worked as an Art Director at LEGO before moving to the United States.

Her work focuses on painting and photography, exploring women’s lives, cultural connection, and moments of rest. Her ongoing series, Resting in Muʻumuʻu, centers on the quiet strength and everyday softness of women and wāhine.

Why Studio Kōlea

The name comes from the migratory kōlea (Pacific Golden Plover), a bird that travels thousands of miles between Siberia and Hawaiʻi.

Ezgi chose this name because her ancestors trace back to the Altai Mountains (Siberia), and she now calls Hawaiʻi — specifically the lands beneath Kaʻala — home.

Studio Kōlea reflects that journey: from Altai to Kaʻala, carrying stories across oceans.

Ezgi lives and works on Oʻahu with her ʻohana and three cats.