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BASE 2025, the nationwide platform dedicated to Türkiye’s newly graduated artists, opened this week at the Ritz-Carlton Residences in Istanbul, marking its most expansive edition yet.
The exhibition gathers 151 recent graduates from 43 universities across 36 cities, presenting close to 200 works that reflect the diversity of contemporary artistic practice in the country.
The exhibition remains free and open to the public through Nov. 30 at the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Istanbul.
The exhibition spans a wide range of mediums, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, glass, photography, video, new media, graphic design, and traditional Turkish arts, offering a comprehensive snapshot of emerging artistic voices.
Curated under the theme “Boundaries / Possibilities,” this year’s edition invites visitors to explore how young artists navigate identity, memory, social issues and personal expression.
At the opening, curator and academic Derya Yucel described this year’s show as “a shared ground where boundaries do not solidify, possibilities multiply and encounters become possible.” You feel that immediately: artists working with the precision of people who know the ground beneath them is not guaranteed.
In addition to the core graduate showcase, BASE 2025 features a series of parallel exhibitions that expand its reach.
BASELECTED 2025 brings together recent works by 65 alumni of earlier BASE editions, providing insight into how their practices have matured since their first appearance in the platform.
The event also hosts Guest Country: Romania, presenting around 80 works by 13 young Romanian artists who graduated in the past decade, underscoring BASE’s growing international outlook.
Another component, Take Good Care of Your World, highlights ceramic works by 15 artists who engage with environmental and social themes through material experimentation.
BASE also dedicates space to 12 young women artists supported by the Bir Adim Var Foundation, reflecting the event’s commitment to elevating underrepresented voices in the arts.
Both outlets note that BASE has evolved into one of Türkiye’s most significant entry points for young artists, offering visibility, professional grounding and an early-career platform within Istanbul’s art scene.
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