Numerous fine art galleries offer a wide range of art and cultural events in Istanbul. At these galleries you have a chance to visit the exhibitions of various famous artists. Most galleries are run by well-known families and they have small cafes within. If you are an art lover, you won’t want to miss the city’s impressive art museums.
Pera Art Gallery continues to organise mixed and personal exhibitions every year between September to June and permanent exhibitions between July and August for fine arts like drawing, sculpture, ceramics and mosaic.
The Pera Museum was founded by the Suna and İnan Kırac Foundation and is located in Tepebasi. Suna Kıraç is the daughter of the Turkish tycoon Vehbi Koc. Pera Museum is open every Tuesday to Saturday between 10.00 and 19.00, every Sunday between 12.00 and 18.00 and it is closed on Mondays.
İstanbul Modern has permanent collections and three to four temporary exhibitions annually. In Istanbul Modern Art Museum you will find works of local artists ranging from sculptures and paintings to less conventional creations.
These include a retrospective exhibition, a survey of modern Turkish artists, and an international contemporary art exhibition. Istanbul Modern is located in a converted warehouse in Tophane district on the Bosphorus. Museum is open every Tuesday to Sunday between 10.00 and 18.00 and Thursday between 10.00 and 20.00 and closed on Mondays. Free Admission on Thursdays.
Turkey’s first contemporary art museum is Dogancay Museum. It is housed in a historic 150 year old five storey building located in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul. The collections in Dogancay Museum cover a wide range of media and materials and include paintings, drawings, sculptures, prints, photographs and Aubusson tapestries. Dogancay Museum is open daily between 10am and 6pm / Admission is free.
Sakıp Sabancı Museum is a private fine arts museum in Istanbul. It has been founded by Sakip Sabanci and exhibits calligraphic art, religious and state documents, as well as paintings of the Ottoman era. It also exhibited the works of Pablo Picasso and Auguste Rodin and gained worldwide attention.
The Turkish and Islamic Art Museum is located in Sultan Ahmed Square. The collection includes notable examples of Islamic calligraphy, rugs, tiles as well as ethnographic displays on various cultures in Turkey, particularly nomad groups.
Another private collection museum in Istanbul is Elgiz Museum of Contemporary Art which was founded by Sevda and Can Elgiz.
The Galeri Apel can be found within the European style and located in Beyoglu district of Istanbul. Apel is known for its Turkish paintings and Ottoman pieces. It is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 11:30 and 18:30.
AFA Art Gallery, Akademililer Art Center, Apel Art Gallery, Atatürk Library, Beyoğlu Municipality Art Gallery, HİT Culture Center, Cekirdek Art, Leman Culture Center, Eren Art Gallery, Hakan Art Gallery, İstanbul Culture Center Lale Art Gallery, Odakule Art Gallery, The Marmara Istanbul Opera Art Gallery etc in Beyoglu; Antik Art Gallery, Bahariye Art Gallery, Barış Manço Culture Center, Benadam Art Gallery, CBM Art, Gf ArtHouse, Kiziltoprak Art Gallery, Mim Art Center, Modern Art House, Nevzemin 14 Art Gallery, Slideshow Gallery are in Kadikoy; Gallery Remzi, Opera Art Gallery, Taksim Art Gallery, Bilgi Workshop 111 are other galleries in Taksim…