Countdown Has Begun for the 18th Contemporary Istanbul Fair

Countdown Has Begun for the 18th Contemporary Istanbul Fair…

Contemporary Istanbul is one of the significant fairs that has opened its doors to both the local and international art world, reflecting the universality of art and Istanbul’s cultural diversity since 2006. Held annually in Istanbul, the event brings together national and international artists and galleries across various fields of contemporary art. By presenting painting, sculpture, photography, video art, installation, and many other disciplines to art enthusiasts and collectors, it continues to position Istanbul as a center for art, while offering a prestigious platform for interaction within the art community.

Traditionally held in indoor venues such as the Istanbul Congress Center or Lütfi Kırdar Congress Center, Contemporary Istanbul has been hosted at Tersane Istanbul for the past three years. Located in one of the city’s prominent areas along Istanbul’s longest accessible waterfront, this district opens a section of itself to visitors during the fair. With its interactive use of indoor and outdoor spaces, Tersane Istanbul has become a favorite venue for many attendees.

Sponsored by Akbank, the 18th Contemporary Istanbul will open with VIP previews on September 26–27 and will be accessible to the public from September 28 to October 1. The fair will feature 67 contemporary art galleries, 4 initiatives, and 4 art institutions from 22 different countries. Among the 33 local galleries, notable participants include Galeri Siyah Beyaz, Pilevneli, Galeri x-ist, Pg Art Gallery, Pi Artworks, Piramid Sanat, Sevil Dolmacı Art Gallery, C.A.M. Galeri, Dirimart, Galeri 77, Bozlu Art Project, and BüroSarıgedik. International galleries with a presence in Istanbul include Zilberman (Istanbul & Berlin), Pi Artworks (London & Istanbul), Mariana Custodio Gallery (Lisbon & Istanbul), Collect Gallery (Sofia & Istanbul), and Anna Laudel (Düsseldorf & Istanbul).

Below is a brief overview of some of these noteworthy participants:

Galeria Joan Gaspar
Founded in 1909, the gallery is known for introducing artists such as Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró to Barcelona. Between 1972 and 1991, it operated under Sala Gaspar and continued promoting modern art while supporting emerging artists, including Igor Mitoraj, Etienne Krähenbühl, Jean-Baptiste Huynh, and Concha Sampol. Collaborating with museums and cultural institutions, the gallery contributes to both public and private exhibitions. Among its highlights, Igor Mitoraj’s “Centurione screpolato” attracts attention.

Piramid Sanat Gallery
Founded by artist Bedri Baykam in Taksim, Piramid Sanat hosts artists from across Turkey and organizes interdisciplinary multimedia exhibitions including painting, video, installation, and sculpture. Artists featured at the 18th Contemporary Istanbul include Ertuğrul Akyüz, Şevval Başalan, Bedri Baykam, Denis Gökduman, Genco Gülan, Mustafa Karyağdı, Mehmet Özenbaş, Erdo Sam, and Ceren Selmanpakoğlu.

Aspan Gallery
Specializing in contemporary Central Asian art, Aspan Gallery supports its artists through exhibitions and publications that contribute to the region’s art scene. At the fair, you can see works by Askhat Akhmedyarov, Nurbol Nurakhmet, and Rashid Nurekeyev.

Bavan Gallery
A gallery dedicated to promoting Iranian contemporary art worldwide, Bavan features artists such as Samaneh Abri, Maryam Amirvaghefi, Kamran Diba, Leila Ghandchi, Zahra Ghyasi, and Ahoo Hamedi. Kamran Diba’s “On-The-Line” offers insight into the gallery’s perspective.

Bogena Galerie
With bases in France and the U.S., Bogena Galerie has operated in Japan since the late 1990s and presents multidisciplinary works, including painting, sculpture, drawing, and printmaking. Featured artists this year include Monique Frydman, Nathalie Deshairs, Harry Morgan, Jeff Bertoncino, Jaume Plensa, Carl Dahl, James Coignard, and Youssef Douieb.

Galeri 77
Known for supporting successful artists, Galeri 77 focuses on creating, exhibiting, and distributing unique works while providing academic resources through catalogs and publications. Participating artists include Aras Alekian, Karen Arakel, Narek Arzumanyan, Gayane Avetissian, Roman Babakhanian, Gurgen Babayan, Vahram Davtian, Bayram Demir, Armen Gevorkian, Sedat Girgin, Hakan Gürbüzer, Vav Hakobyan, Mehmet Resul Kaçar, Roman Kakoyan, Mesut Karakış, David Martirosyan, Rafael Megall, Daron Mouradian, Ani Qananyan, Armén Rotch, Kirkor Sahakoğlu, Arthur Tonakanyan, Halil Sercan Tunalı, and Gago. Notable works include Vav Hakobyan’s “Two Figures in a Blue Room.”

SANATORIUM
Hosting critical and experimental projects, Sanatorium supports independent art initiatives through art meetings, talks, and performances. Featured artists at the 18th Contemporary Istanbul include Gizem Akkoyunoğlu, Kerem Ozan Bayraktar, Erol Eskici, Çağla Köseoğulları, Yağız Özgen, Zeyno Pekünlü, Berkay Tuncay, and Clemens Wolf.

Galeri FURIOSA
Since its founding in 2021, Galeri FURIOSA has attracted attention with minimalist and innovative display methods. Focused on nurturing new collectors, it showcases projects by Silvestre Bastian, Alejandro Galvan, Angela Leyva, Dennis Miranda, and Rodrigo Ramirez. Alejandro Galvan’s work “No Temas Donde Vayas Que Has De Morir Donde Debes” exemplifies the gallery’s approach.

INLOCO Gallery
Focusing on street art, INLOCO presents artists’ visions through pop-up and outdoor projects, highlighting urban contemporary art. Featured artists include Ivan Ilinskii, Maxim Ima, Sergei Krasavin, Sasha Trun, DUSTO, Turben, and Xeato, with DUSTO’s “Untitled” as a highlight.

SISTEMA GALLERY
Dedicated to discovering and promoting new names in Russia and internationally, Sistema Gallery introduces artists to museums, biennials, awards, and fairs. Alina Kugush’s “Alternative methods of mobility” is on display alongside works by Suigir Buluktaev, Misha Buryi, Alina Kugush, Samuill Marshak, Slava Nesterov, and Sasha Puchkova.

SODA Istanbul
SODA focuses on contemporary art jewelry, showcasing artists and designers using diverse materials and media. Featured artists include Alain Darre, Seo Young Deok, Marta Fabregas, Christophe Jacrot, Gerard Mas, Frank Plant, Efraim Rodriguez, Samuel Salcedo, and Derrick Santini.

Den Art Gallery
Founded in 2021 by Gülden Bostancı as Antalya’s only contemporary art gallery, Den Art Gallery introduces local and national artists, including Deniz Karakurt Şekerci, Baki Bodur, Baran Kurtoğlu, Ertuğrul Güngör, and Faruk Ertekin.

CI Photo Focus
The CI Photo Focus team highlights contemporary photography practices, offering interactive experiences for artists and visitors under the guidance of Simone Klein.

Akbank Sanat
Akbank Sanat will host the “Şaka” exhibition curated by Hasan Bülent Kahraman, the BMW Electric AI Canvas project, the LG OLED ART project, and the CIF Dialogues by İGA ART talks with varying themes each year.

Outdoor Installations
The fair also features outdoor works, including sculptures and installations curated by Marc Oliver Wahler at The Yard. Sponsored by Tosyalı Holding, the “Sustainable Art” collection transforms industrial objects into new artworks.

As every year, Contemporary Istanbul is already being closely followed by art enthusiasts months in advance. The countdown continues on social media, and tickets are available online or at the fair. For more information, visit the Contemporary Istanbul website.