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Contemporary Istanbul 2026 concludes at Tersane Istanbul

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2026-09-28 12:37 UTC → 2026-10-01 00:02 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The 21st edition of Contemporary Istanbul took place from September 23 to 27, 2026, at Tersane Istanbul. The event featured 70 galleries from 16 countries and utilized two main halls to facilitate dialogue between the Turkish contemporary art scene and international galleries. A major pillar of the fair was the ‘Focus: Asia’ program, which highlighted contemporary art from China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand. Founder Ali Güreli noted that the initiative aims to introduce the Turkish art world to Asian art ecosystems to foster long-term collaborations, observing that exchanges between Chinese and Turkish galleries have already commenced. Curator Pearl Lam presented works from artists representing three generations from China, Japan, Nigeria, and the UK to revitalize traditional expressions through contemporary art. To support emerging practices, a new section titled ‘New Grounds’ was introduced, placing galleries from cities such as New York, Prague, Ankara, New Delhi, Tehran, and Istanbul side by side. The fair’s Sculpture Park featured 12 monumental open-air works, including a white bronze sculpture titled ‘The Bunnyman’ by Johnny Depp and an installation by Jaume Plensa. Additionally, the work ‘Istanbul Kara Surları’ by Oddviz was added to the Istanbul Governorship collection. Technological integration remained a central theme through the ART TV Partnership with Samsung Electronics Türkiye. The partnership showcased models such as The Frame, The Frame Pro, Micro RGB, and OLED TVs, featuring digital works by South Korean artist Vakki and access to the Samsung Art Store’s 5,000 works. Additionally, Trendyol Sanat presented ‘Seyir’, a digital installation by Balkan Karışman that uses real-time imagery of the Golden Horn. Notable sculptural works included Alice Aycock’s ‘Spinning Top’, an aluminum structure exploring mathematical order and chaotic energy, and Tony Cragg’s ‘Ivy’, a wooden sculpture mimicking organic biological movement. ~~Akbank Sanat also presented~~ Organizers announced that the ~~exhibition ‘Garip Şeyler Oluyor’ (Strange Things Are Happening), curated by Prof. Dr. Hasan Bülent Kahraman, featuring works by Esra Özdoğan, Gülin Hayat Topdemir, and Nazif Topçuoğlu.~~ 22nd edition, scheduled for 2027, will introduce a ‘Focus: Germany’ program.

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