The historic English landmark, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, hosted the exhibition “Hats of Passion: Queen Elizabeth II”, presented in collaboration between Deniz Çobanoğlu and Çelikkol Marble.
We are in England, in Oxfordshire. At one of the most distinguished English landmarks — Blenheim Palace. This magnificent building, constructed between 1705 and 1722, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987. The palace is also known as the birthplace and ancestral home of the legendary former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill. This site of great importance to England became the venue for an event that made Turkey proud, held between August 27–31, 2025. The exhibition “Hats of Passion: Queen Elizabeth II,” created by natural stone artist and interior architect Deniz Çobanoğlu in collaboration with Çelikkol Marble, attracted more than 20,000 visitors at Blenheim Palace.
FIRST SHOWING IN IZMIR
Held as part of Salon Privé, one of the UK’s most prestigious automotive and lifestyle events, the Queen Exhibition was presented to art lovers within the unique atmosphere of Blenheim Palace. As a reminder… this special exhibition was first unveiled at the 2023 Izmir Marble Fair, at the Çelikkol Marble stand, where it became one of the main highlights of the event. In England, the most striking work of the exhibition was the bust titled “Mechanic.” In the piece titled “Knowledge and Power,” the Queen’s portrait was carved from white marble, while her hat and the gear-shaped forms behind her were sculpted from black marble. The strong contrast presented by Deniz Çobanoğlu symbolizes the Queen’s technical knowledge and sense of service, gained during World War II when she worked as a military vehicle mechanic. Visitors interpreted this work as a symbol of both grace and action-based leadership.
SUPPORT FROM THE ÇELİKKOL FAMILY
The exhibition, featuring six additional sculptures shedding light on Queen Elizabeth II’s life and values, bears the signature of Deniz Çobanoğlu, who said:
“It is, of course, an honor to present such a special exhibition. Having all the members of the Çelikkol Marble family with me at the show made it even more meaningful. We will continue our collaboration with new projects, and I take great joy in that.”
