The artists have been announced for the first leg of the 18th Istanbul Biennial, entitled The Three-Legged Cat, with a focus on survival instincts as we look towards the future.
Curated by Christine Tohmé, the biennial will take place over three years from 2025 to 2027 and will unfold through exhibitions, public programming, performances and screenings. Works from 47 artists will be presented in eight venues between Beyoğlu and Karaköy: Zihni Han, Muradiye Han, Cone Factory, Tophane Mekân (Garden of the Former French Orphanage), Elhamra Han, Meclis-i Mebusan 35, Galeri 77 and Galata Greek School.
Participating artists for first leg include:
Haig Aivazian
Abdullah Al Saadi
Ana Alenso
Willy Aractingi
Karimah Ashadu
Mona Benyamin
Chen Ching-Yuan
Ian Davis
Nolan Oswald Dennis
İpek Duben
Celina Eceiza
Ali Eyal
Eva Fàbregas
Simone Fattal
Lou Fauroux
Pélagie Gbaguidi
Lungiswa Gqunta
Rafik Greiss
Ola Hassanain
Doruntina Kastrati
Jasleen Kaur
Şafak Şule Kemancı
Kongkee
Seta Manoukian
Mona Marzouk
Merve Mepa
Valentin Noujaïm
Claudia Pagès Rabal
Pilar Quinteros
Khalil Rabah
Jagdeep Raina
Marwan Rechmaoui
Naomi Rincón-Gallardo
Riar Rizaldi
Lara Saab
Sara Sadik
Stéphanie Saadé
Sohail Salem
Elif Saydam
Selma Selman
Natasha Tontey
Sevil Tunaboylu
VASKOS
Ana Vaz
Dilek Winchester
Akram Zaatari
Ayman Zedani
Participating artists for the public programme include:
Lawrence Abu Hamdan
Samar Al Summary
Alex Baczyński-Jenkins
Krzysztof Bagiński
Ronald Berger
Ewa Dziarnowska
Ahmad Ghossein
Maxime Hourani
Meho Huskić
Rafal Pierzynski
Suneil Sanzgiri
Muhamed Selman
Selma Selman
Sigrid Stigsdatter Mathiassen
18th Istanbul Biennial runs from 20 September until 23 November 2025
