Contemporary İstanbul Exclusive / Contemporary Istanbul 20th Edition, September 24–28 At Tersane Istanbul / Editing News By Oktay Kabdan / Publisher wmwnewsglobal

Contemporary Istanbul’s 20th Edition Welcomes 54,320 Art Enthusiasts at Tersane Istanbul
For five days, Contemporary Istanbul welcomed visitors from around the world with an unforgettable artistic journey, uniting the history of Istanbul with the energy of contemporary art and leaving its mark on every corner.

The 20th edition of Contemporary Istanbul, Türkiye’s premier international contemporary art fair, brought art
enthusiasts together at Tersane Istanbul from September 24 to 28, with Akbank as the main partner. This year’s fair
hosted 52 contemporary art galleries from 16 countries, showcasing 931 artworks by 579 artists to 54,320 visitors.

Celebrating the 20th edition, Ali Güreli, Chairman of Contemporary Istanbul, described the fair as “a legacy for futuregenerations,

” and added: “For 20 years, Contemporary Istanbul has upheld three principles: being an international fair, providing a platform for cultural interaction and exchange, and sustaining its presence beyond the fair itself.

Today, CI is more than a fair; it is a dynamic cultural platform that positions Istanbul as a multifaceted international hub. While bringing together collectors, artists, and galleries, we have also embraced social responsibility through  artistic and educational projects carried out by the Contemporary Istanbul Foundation.

Despite all challenges, we have succeeded in maintaining our cultural presence in the region. I am confident that the discussions surrounding art and technology will empower artists to build a better future.

”The Contemporary Istanbul’s 20th edition saw many acquisitions, among them works by “Canan Tolon, Tony Cragg,
Chelsea Culprit, George Condo, Burhan Doğançay, Takashi Murakami, Erol Akyavaş, Gülnur Özsoy, Edward
Burtynsky ve Alkan Avcıoğlu, Tracey Emin, Melis Buyruk, Azade Köker, Bettina Pousttchi, Gil Heitor Cortesao, Jose
Carlos Martinat, Santiago Parra, Seda Gazioğlu ve Sefa Çatuk, Alessandro Twombly ve Leonardo Meoni ve Elena
Damian” and more.

The opening reception was held at Alieé Istanbul, with Akbank as the main partner and Tersane Istanbul as the supporting partner. The evening continued with speeches by Ali Güreli,

Chairman of Contemporary Istanbul; Suzan Sabancı, Chairman of Akbank; and Fettah Tamince, Chairman of Tersane Istanbul.
In collaboration with the U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Türkiye, the 20th edition of Contemporary Istanbul welcomed
Jennifer Stockman, President Emeritus of the Guggenheim Museum.

As part of the Focus America section, highlighting the American contemporary art scene, leading galleries such as Leila Heller Gallery, Amanita, Revolver Galería, Pontone / Friedrichs Pontone, and Heft Gallery were hosted in Türkiye for the first time.
CIF Dialogues 2025: Istanbul and the Shifting Map of Art
As part of the 20th anniversary of Contemporary Istanbul, the Contemporary Istanbul Foundation (CIF) presented
the CIF Dialogues 2025 program.

Curated by Sarp Kerem Yavuz, Artistic Director of the Contemporary Istanbul Foundation, the two-day program brought together artists, curators, architects, collectors and cultural leaders from around the world. The program addressed the reshaping of art institutions and the transformation of creativity and audiences in response to geopolitical instability, digital acceleration, and evolving social paradigms.

Istanbul, with it deep-rooted history and strong identity, is situated at the intersection of these tensions.
Special CIF Presentation: Judy Chicago – What If Women Ruled the World?

In collaboration with Tersane Istanbul and the Contemporary Istanbul Foundation, the exhibition What If Women
Ruled the World? by pioneering feminist artist Judy Chicago was presented in Türkiye for the first time.

The work was exhibited to art enthusiasts free of charge at Tersane Istanbul from September 22 to 28. Visitors were invited to
engage with the questions posed by the piece, becoming part of its evolving narrative.

Jennifer Stockman, President Emeritus of the Guggenheim Museum, delivered the opening keynote. Anne Pasternak,
Director of the Brooklyn Museum, discussed institutional leadership during times of transformation with museum
developer Emin Mahir Balcıoğlu.

Summer Wheat, a New York-based artist, shared her guest artist program and her process of creating new artworks within the city’s living heritage at Tersane Istanbul.

Grimanesa Amorós, a New York-based Peruvian-American artist, spoke about light, memory, and monumentality. The artist’s large-scale installation, produced as part of The Peninsula Istanbul’s Art in Resonance program, was exhibited to art enthusiasts
alongside the Contemporary Istanbul art fair.

Additionally, world-renowned figures such as Marina Abramović, Thomas Girst (BMW), Pierre Sigg (Sigg Art Foundation) and Adeline Ooi (Former Asia Director for Art Basel) discussed the redefinition of global art practices.

The fair also hosted six students who successfully completed the art education certificate program organized for Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, with support from the Contemporary Istanbul Foundation and Tosyalı Holding . They met with the instructors who taught their online lessons and with Chairman Fuat Tosyalı at the Tosyalı Holding stand.

SIGG Art Foundation Collection

This year’s highlights included a selection from the collection of Pierre Sigg, a member of the Contemporary Istanbul Advisory Board. Spanning the intersection of digital and traditional media, from modern and post-war works to emerging contemporary voices, the collection reflected the intergenerational diversity of contemporary art.

The Sigg Foundation’s exhibition area featured works by notable artists such as Jean-Baptiste Vanmour, Louisa
Gagliardi, Charles Ross, Korakrit Arunanondchai, Monia Ben Hamouda, Meriem Bennani, Austin Lee, Neïl Beloufa, Johnny Depp, and Jean Claracq. 52 Galleries from 16 Countries, 579 Artists, 931 Artworks

The 20th edition of Contemporary Istanbul hosted 52 galleries from 16 countries, showcasing 931 artworks by 579
artists to art enthusiasts.

Moiz Zilberman of Zilberman Gallery commented on the 20th edition of Contemporary Istanbul: “The quality and
quantity of foreign visitors at the 20th edition of the fair were higher than ever. Another pleasing development was that nearly a third of our sales were to collectors buying from us for the first time.”

Pınar Akalın from Muse Contemporary made the following remarks: “This year, the fair attracted an audience with a
much stronger profile.  We met with prominent foreign collectors, who expanded their collections with notable pieces by our Turkish artists.

This is an important development, as it has opened the door for our artists to enter foreign markets without needing to participate in fairs abroad. We have achieved a major milestone, and we have CI to thank for it.”

Ilan Karpio, Director of Pedro Cera: “At the 20th Contemporary Istanbul, we had the opportunity to meet both local and international collectors. What impressed us most was witnessing the emergence of new connections alongside seasoned collectors who have been part of the art world for many years. The Turkish art scene offers a welcoming environment to connect with clients and foster meaningful relationships.”

Victoria Young, Director of Revolver Galeria: “Contemporary Istanbul serves as a magical portal where leading galleries come together. The organization is truly outstanding, making each day unforgettable from start to finish.

The fair embodies a truly global spirit by bringing together leading galleries from across the world. As a gallery from Latin America, we are deeply honored to be welcomed here with such warmth.

The excellent connections formed with collectors fostered a dynamic and inspiring atmosphere. The fair offers spaces and moments that
guarantee a smooth and seamless experience.

We are deeply grateful.” Sea Transport to Art As part of the 20th edition, complimentary boat services transported 17,000 passengers from the Karaköy, Kabataş, Beşiktaş, and Kadıköy piers to Tersane Istanbul. This service offered visitors convenient access to the fairground from the city center.

Over 2,200 University Students Attended Contemporary Istanbul for Free CI 20 distributed free tickets to more than 2,200 university students to improve access to the arts and support young audiences. This allowed students to engage directly with contemporary art.

As part of the 20th edition of Contemporary Istanbul, organized with Akbank as the main partner, 240 young artist candidates were welcomed to the fair free of charge through the “Akbank Sanat – Contemporary Istanbul 2025 Learning Program for Students of Fine Arts High Schools and Universities.” Students had the opportunity to experience the fair from a professional perspective through special guided tours. Artistic Support from the Embassy of Spain

In the 20th edition of Contemporary Istanbul, galleries from Spain, including Villa del Arte Galleries, Pedro Cera, 1
Mira Madrid, and Galeria Joan Gaspar, participated in the fair in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain, showcasing
their country’s contemporary art scene to audiences in Istanbul.

The four galleries were directly funded by the Ambassador of Spain.

This contribution enhanced the visibility of international artists and galleries at the fair while strengthening cultural dialogue and the artistic ties between the two countries. Contemporary Istanbul 20th Edition Special Partner Projects

The 20th edition of Contemporary Istanbul provided participants with a unique experience through prestigious
partnerships and special projects that combined diverse avenues of art. Akbank Sanat, the main partner of Contemporary Istanbul for two decades, presented the oil paintings of Jannis Kounellis for the first time, curated by Hasan Bülent Kahraman.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the BMW Art Car Collection, distributed in Türkiye by Borusan Otomotiv, a partner of Contemporary Istanbul, two iconic vehicles were displayed together in Türkiye for the first time: Alexander Calder’s legendary first Art Car from 1975 and Julie Mehretu’s latest addition to the collection. In a special talk held as part of the fair’s CIF Dialogues,

Thomas Girst, Head of Global Cultural Engagement at the BMW Group, highlighted the history and individual stories of the 20 moving sculptures. Tersane Istanbul, another partner of Contemporary Istanbul, hosted four large-scale installations that blended the historic fabric of the Golden Horn with contemporary artistic expression.

Works by Arcangelo Sassolino, Pascale Marthine Tayou, Jorinde Voigt, and Summer Wheat were exhibited across Aliée
Istanbul, offering visitors immersive experiences that connected the city’s architectural heritage with its contemporary artistic scene.

Turkish Airlines, the fair’s official airline partner, collaborated with Turkish artist Dide, whose work is exhibited at the
National Portrait Gallery in London, to create In Flow for Miles&Smiles, blending her heritage with international influences.

The artwork reflected the Miles&Smiles values, capturing the natural flow of life and highlighting the small moments that enrich it from the artist’s perspective.

Pernod Ricard Türkiye, the host partner of Contemporary Istanbul, presented two unique sculptures created specially by Erdil Yaşaroğlu.

TOSYALI x Seçkin Pirim combined the philosophy of upcycling in art with a focus on sustainability, introducing art enthusiasts to Seçkin Pirim’s neo-minimalist works created using various materials. Reflecting his artistic evolution from past to present, these artworks united Tosyalı’s green steel vision with his approach to creative transformation on a shared platform.

This year, Ruzy Finansal Hizmetler launched The Pavilion by WANGAN Studio, which hosted the CIF Dialogues and special partner projects for the 20th anniversary. The company was also present at the RUZY Lounge with a special exhibition.

Trendyol Sanat’s Neuroflux, designed by Güvenç Özel as a hypermedia object at the intersection of digital and physical media, offered an ever-evolving experience through light, projection, and algorithmic imagery. Curated by GLOBART in collaboration with Trendyol Sanat, the project invited the audience to reflect on individual perception and collective existence.

ION engaged visitors at CI20 with an interactive digital art project that blurred the lines between individual existence
and collective experience.

Curated by Begüm Güney and produced in collaboration with Hakan and Süleyman Yılmaz, the artwork displayed portraits taken by visitors at a kiosk on a four-meter-high screen, evolving into a dynamic collage through a digital algorithm. ION was presented at Contemporary Istanbul as a collective organism, alive through the presence of participants rather than as a singular creation.

With “This is the Work of Girls,” LEGO Türkiye challenged stereotypes that associate creativity and building skills exclusively with boys, emphasizing girls’ creative self-confidence. Accordingly, the artworks produced by four female artists (Ece Ağırtmış, Eda Taşlı, Gökçe İrten, and Selin Tahtakılıç) as part of “This is the Work of Girls” by LEGO Türkiye inspired creativity and building skills in girls.

Donations from the exhibition supported a LEGO play workshop conducted in a disadvantaged region in collaboration with the SosyalBen Foundation. The partners also included L’OR Espresso, The Peninsula Istanbul, The Marmara Group, Magdeburger Sigorta, and
Mudo Concept, with TAG serving as a transportation partner. While the fair’s international visibility efforts were backed by the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), promotional activities across Istanbul were managed by İBB KÜLTÜR A.Ş. Meanwhile, this year, Contemporary Istanbul’s communications were supported by Golin.

Tickets will soon be available via Biletix.
To download the CI mobile application, please visit the links below

Contact:

Jane Sabancıoğlu | jane@ci.com.tr
Işıl Kavaklı
Funda Afşar

|+90 532 313 70 10
| ikavakli@golin.com |+90 533 296 61 10
| fafsar@golin.com
|+90 542 520 55 54