Emel Nurhan Oğan was born in Istanbul in 1959. She is a graduate of Marmara University Fine Arts Faculty Painting Department. Oğan took classes from Semih İrteş, Mamure Öz, Sevim Kayaoğlu, Mustafa Çelebi, Melek Antel and Dürdane Ünver at Topkapı Palace Workshop. She gives classes at her own workshop and at İSMEK Turkish-Islamic Arts Specialization Center. Oğan has participated in many personal and group exhibitions.