Contemporary Istanbul returns for 19th edition

Spanish-Latin American theme and ‘soft power’ message to the fore at 2024 art fair

The opportunity to view works by an impressive lineup of artists in a city steeped in history and on the water’s edge has helped elevate Contemporary Istanbul (CI) to the status of ‘must attend’ event among many art lovers worldwide. 

This winning combination, alongside highlights for 2024 that include exciting new venues and a Spanish-Latin American theme, look set to put Türkiye’s premier contemporary art fair on course for another successful year.

The 2024 edition of Contemporary Istanbul takes place from Thursday October 24th to Sunday October 27th, preceded by a preview day on Wednesday October 23rd.

A total of 50 galleries from 14 countries are scheduled to take part in what marks the 19th iteration of this popular art fair, with their eye-catching displays set out across the historic Tersane Istanbul. Locations range from picturesque waterfront open spaces to others offering vistas of Istanbul and the Golden Horn.

Alongside homegrown galleries, visitors can look forward to browsing more than 800 art pieces by over 500 artists from galleries located in: Arentina; Brazil; Czech Republic; China; Dubai; France; Germany; Greece; Italy; Portugal; Russia; Spain; Sweden; the UK; and the US.

The guest country programme for 2024 shines a spotlight on Spain, Spanish-speaking countries and Latin America, with this decision reflected in the highly anticipated special exhibition. Titled ‘Born in the Seventies’, and curated by Juan Manuel and Monika Bonet, the show features over 20 exceptional works from 15 leading galleries located across Spain, which collectively highlight the diverse and evolving landscape of contemporary Spanish art.

Having quickly become a staple of the CI art fair, the iconic Yard Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition makes a welcome return for a fourth year in an idyllic setting looking out towards the Golden Horn waterfront. Curated by Marc Olivier Wahler, artistic advisor for Contemporary Istanbul and director of the MAH Musée d’Art et d’Histoire in Geneva, the popular show features 19 works by a diverse group of emerging and established artists.

Running concurrently with the art fair, the CIF Dialogues program will feature international talks by experts on topics related to the broader Spanish and Latin American art theme and digital art in the age of artificial intelligence.

Commenting ahead of CI 2024, Ali Gureli, Chairperson and Founder of Contemporary Istanbul, noted that the growing international relevance of Contemporary Istanbul underscored the fair’s pivotal role in bridging diverse artistic expressions with a global audience. 

“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,” he said. “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.”

Contemporary Istanbul 2024:

Wednesday October 23 (Preview Day) 

Thursday October 24 – Sunday October 27, at Tersane Istanbul, Türkiye.

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