Redrawing Istanbul's artistic landscape, Artweeks Istanbul has opened its doors for its 12th edition. Organised under the main sponsorship of UBS and the founding sponsorship of Bilgili Holding, the event will set the city's cultural rhythm until October 26th. Organised by Bilgili Sanat, Artweeks Istanbul presents visitors with the latest examples of modern and contemporary art in two main locations.
This year, the event, which builds an art bridge between The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Istanbul B Block and Akaretler Row Houses, promises visitors a multi-layered discovery experience ranging from gallery selections to solo projects, corporate collections to independent works, installations to experimental works.
Art festival at two points of the city
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Istanbul, Block B, houses a selection of Türkiye's leading modern and contemporary art galleries, creating a focused space for collectors and art professionals. Akaretler Row Houses, meanwhile, offers a more dynamic venue with solo exhibitions, independent projects by emerging artists, special selections from corporate collections, and innovative examples.
The event will feature institutions and artists such as Ambidexter, Artopol Art Gallery, ArtHan Gallery, Asım İşler, Baksı Museum, Bilgili Sanat, Bosfor, Bülent Eczacıbaşı, Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, BB Projectt, Cem Güventürk, Eart Gallery, EVİN, Frank Art Studio, Galerist, Gallery G-Art, Hasan Sarıtaş Art Gallery, Horozart, Taksim Sanat, Art for Good Association, İmoga Art Space, Istanbul Concept Gallery, Kun Art Space, Martch Art Project, MERKUR, Mine Sanat Gallery, Nihat Odabaşı, Öktem Aykut, Pi Artworks, Red Art İstanbul, Sanatorium, Şerife Bilgili Ercantürk, Tamer Yılmaz, UZ Gallery, Versus Art Project, and X-IST.
A vision that strengthens the art ecosystem
Bilgili Holding CEO Sinan Temo summarised the vision of Artweeks Istanbul with these words: “Artweeks Istanbul is a platform that supports young and independent artists, shaped around collective production and solidarity. Making art accessible to everyone and creating a sustainable ecosystem is our priority.”
Begüm Güney, Bilgili Holding's Arts and Culture Director, explained the purpose of the dual-location development: "While we present a selection of galleries at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, we are creating space for solo exhibitions, special collections, and independent projects at Akaretler Sıraevler. We aim to offer visitors a rich experience that sparks new dialogue at every corner."
All exhibitions are open to visitors free of charge. This approach stands out as Artweeks Istanbul's fundamental strategy, strengthening the connection between art and a wider audience and its contribution to the city's cultural life.
Located at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Curation Space offers a dedicated space where young, independent curators can present their own selections and curations. These spaces transcend traditional gallery presentations, offering visitors a more in-depth art experience.
Art-talks: The intellectual platform of art
Artweeks Istanbul also highlights current art world debates with its Art-talks program. Panels address topics such as Art and Sustainability, the Future of the Art Economy, the Changing Face of Collecting, Digital Art, and New Horizons.
To date, Bilgili Sanat has provided free access to approximately 1 million visitors through 373 collaborations. Artweeks Istanbul continues to be a significant platform in the Turkish art world, hosting more than 130,000 visitors over the last three editions.
