Turkey’s premier contemporary art fair, Contemporary Istanbul, launches its 19th edition from October 24-27, 2024, with a preview day on Wednesday October 23. Featuring 53 galleries, including 21 top Turkish galleries, this year’s fair, in main partnership with Akbank, will be set across the historic Tersane Istanbul. The event will showcase art in the Tersane Istanbul Event Hall (Hall A) with views of Istanbul and the Golden Horn, the Rixos Tersane İstanbul Ballroom (Hall B) and waterfront open spaces.
Participating galleries:
Andrea Rehder Arte Contemporânea (São Paulo, Brasil); Anna Laudel (İstanbul, Türkiye – Bodrum, Türkiye – Düsseldorf, Germany); Art On İstanbul (İstanbul, Türkiye); AWC Contemporary Gallery (Dubai, UAE); Berlín Galería (Madrid, Spain), BFM ART CENTER (Shanghai, China); bitforms gallery (New York, USA); Bozlu Art Project(İstanbul, Türkiye); BüroSarıgedik (İstanbul, Türkiye); C24 Gallery (New York, USA); Callirrhoë (Athens, Greece); DİFOART (İstanbul, Türkiye); Dirimart (İstanbul, Türkiye); Ferda Sanat Platformu (İstanbul, Türkiye); GALERİ 77(İstanbul, Türkiye); Galeri Nev İstanbul (İstanbul, Türkiye); GALERİ SİYAH BEYAZ (Ankara, Türkiye); GALERİA JOAN GASPAR (Barcelona, Spain); Galería José de la Mano (Madrid, Spain); Galleria Studio G7 (Bologna, Italy); Gillian Jason Gallery (London, UK); GSA Gallery (Stockholm, Sweden); Gülden Bostancı Gallery (Antalya, Türkiye); HOFA (Londra, İngiltere); Jorge López Galería (Barcelona, Spain); Karpuchina Gallery (Prague, Czech Republic); Leila Heller Gallery (Dubai, UAE); Mark Hachem Gallery (Paris, France); Muse Contemporary (İstanbul, Türkiye); OG Gallery (İstanbul, Türkiye); Öktem Aykut (İstanbul, Türkiye); OneArc Gallery (İstanbul, Türkiye); Pedro Cera (Lisbon, Portugal); Pg Art Gallery (İstanbul, Türkiye); Pi Artworks (İstanbul, Türkiye ve Londra, İngiltere); PİLEVNELİ (İstanbul, Türkiye ve Bodrum, Türkiye); Piramid Sanat (İstanbul, Türkiye); Sconci Gallery (Dubai, UAE); Sevil Dolmacı (İstanbul, Türkiye ve Dubai, UAE); SIMBART PROJECTS (İstanbul, Türkiye); SISTEMA Gallery (Moscow, Russia); TAEX(London, UK); İBB Kültür AŞ/Taksim Sanat (İstanbul, Türkiye); Trafo Gallery (Prague, Czech Republic); Villa del Arte Galleries (Barcelona, Spain); Vision Art Platform (İstanbul, Türkiye); W-Galeria (Buenos Aires, Argentina); Wizard Gallery (Roma, Italy); x-ist Gallery (İstanbul, Türkiye) ve ZİLBERMAN (Istanbul, Türkiye – Berlin, Germany – Miami, USA).
Spain and Latin America Focus Section
This year’s guest country program at Contemporary Istanbul is spotlighting Spain, Spanish-speaking countries and Latin America. The Spain & Latin America Focus Section initiative, supported by key Corporate Club partners integral to Turkey-Spain trade relations, presents Andrea Rehder Gallery (São Paulo), Berlin Galleria (Sevilla), Jorge Lopez Galeria (Valencia), Galería Jose de la Mano (Madrid) and W Galeria (Buenos Aires). Throughout the fair, the CIF Dialogues conference program will also feature talks and the centerpiece of this year’s event is a special exhibition Born in the Seventies curated by Juan Manuel Bonet former director of the Reina Sofia Museum Madrid. The exhibition supported by the Department of International Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Madrid and the Embassy of Spain in Turkey. Supported by Cristina Latorre Sancho, Spain’s Ambassador to Turkey, this exhibition presents 21 artworks selected by 15 different galleries from all over Spain. The showcase aims to highlight the diverse and evolving landscape of contemporary Spanish art, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of tradition and modernity in Spanish-speaking countries.
The Yard Outdoor Exhibition
The fair’s iconic The Yard Outdoor Exhibition, curated by Marc Olivier Wahler, director of the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire in Geneva features 19 artworks by a diverse group of both emerging and established artists. Set against the Golden Horn waterfront and the Rixos Hall A terrace, “The Yard” offers a visually captivating and thought-provoking outdoor gallery, highlighting the rich diversity and innovative spirit of contemporary art today.
Participating artists include Anselm Reyle, Bilal Hakan Karakaya, Bilal Yılmaz, Ebru Döşekçi, Erdil Yaşaroğlu, Étienne Krähenbühl, Franco Guerzoni, Giulio Paolini, Georg Herold, Gözde Can Köroğlu, Kazım Karakaya, Kemal Tufan, Onur Mansız, Semih Zeki and Ugo Rondinone
CIF Dialogues Conference Program
The CIF Dialogues program, in collaboration with conference partner IGA Art, will feature expert talks from various disciplines over two days. Organized in partnership with Artsy, a leading marketplace for emerging and renowned artists, the program will be programmed by Sarp Kerem Yavuz, Artistic Advisor to the Contemporary Istanbul Foundation. This event brings together international speakers to explore themes centered on Spain, Spanish-speaking countries and Latin America, with a special focus on art and digital art in the age of artificial intelligence.
Notable figures such as renowned Turkish journalist Fatih Altaylı, curator of The Yard Outdoor Exhibition Marc Olivier Wahler, Stella Clarke (Development Engineer & Project Lead, BMW iX Flow featuring E-ink, BMW Group), Stefanie de Regel (TAEX’s Business Development Director), Steven Sachs (Founder and Director of Bitforms Gallery NY), Sureyya Wille (Digital Sales Strategist), Wilko Austermann (Director of Museum Gegenstandsfreier Kunst), Maria Gracia de Pedro (Chair of the Badr El Jundi Foundation and GCC Spain Founder) and Miguel Blanco-Carrasco (Public Art Expert and Advisor to the Royal Commission for Riyadh City)
The fair is supported by the main partnership of Akbank, Rixos Tersane Istanbul, BMW Turkey, Qua Granite, Turkish Airlines, LG OLED, Trendyol and more. Additional partners include Pernod Ricard Turkiye, Tosyalı Holding, Monan Jewelry and The Marmara Group
For international promotion, the fair will host press in partnership with the Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) and work with municipalities like Istanbul, Ankara and Eskişehir for promotional efforts.
Mr Ali Gureli, Chairperson and Founder of Contemporary Istanbul says: “As we approach our 20th year, the growing international relevance of Contemporary Istanbul underscores the fair’s pivotal role in bridging diverse artistic expressions with a global audience. This year’s edition, with a special focus on Spain, Spanish-speaking countries and Latin America, highlights our commitment to celebrating the rich tapestry of contemporary art from across the globe. Set against the historic backdrop of Rixos Tersane Istanbul, the 19th edition is not just a showcase of exceptional talent but also a testament to the vibrant cultural dialogue.
For 20 years, Contemporary Istanbul has been representing this soft power in the global art market to position Istanbul as one of the world’s leading art destinations. Contemporary Istanbul is not just our brand; it is a brand of Istanbul. In fact, it would not be wrong to say that it is Turkey’s strongest soft power brand internationally. As we approach our 20th anniversary, we are aware of our responsibilities here and we are moving towards our goal of making Istanbul one of the most important centers of contemporary art. “
Press release from Contemporary Istanbul
Image: Ali. Elmaci. Hepimiz Vampiriz Birimiz Hariç IV. 2024. 200 x 228 cm. Oil painting on PLA and TUYB. Photography by Firuz Soyuer. Image courtesy of Contemporary Istanbul
