After starting his professional career in 1995 in a Iznik tile company in Iznik, Kaya continued as the head of his department where Iznik tile were glazed and kilned. He had the opportunity to work with important masters up such as Faik Kırımlı, Faruk Şahin, Fehmi Demirel and Fikret Esen. He is one of the shareholders of the Iznik Mavi Çini and works in the glazing & kilning stages of the Iznik tile production of the company.
Iznik Mavi Cini was founded in 2002 by Mahmut Calışkan, Serap Ereyli and Ismail Kaya to produce traditional Iznik tiles, of which production ended in the 18th century and began only in the 21st century, using modern technology.
Iznik tile is known in the world’s ceramic literature as the ceramic that is impossible to produce. The challenge lies in quartz -the raw material- that is present in all layers as well as the fact that an excessive amount goes to waste during shaping and firing stages. With its constant R&D efforts and design prowess, Iznik Mavi Cini works to prevent these exquisite works of art from going into oblivion, seeks to introduce them to new generations and are passed on to future generations. In 2011, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism named company shareholders Mahmut Calışkan, Serap Ereyli and Ismail Kaya as the Bearers of Intangible Cultural Heritage due to their successful and original works.