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Artweeks Istanbul has opened its "Collectors" edition, turning Akaretler Siraevler, a row of 19th-century townhouses in Istanbul's Besiktas district near the Bosphorus, into free public galleries for three private art collections.
The exhibition, organized by Bilgili Sanat and sponsored by Kalebodur, opened for a preview today and remains open to the public free of charge from Sept. 17 to Nov. 8.
The event places selections from three collectors, Banu and Hakan Carmikli, Oner Kocabeyoglu and Tansa Mermerci, inside the historic buildings, moving contemporary art outside the setting of museums and galleries.
Banu and Hakan Carmikli's selection, titled "Reunion" (Kavusma), draws on works the couple has formed personal connections with over the years, including pieces by women artists and works addressing social issues.
Hakan Carmikli said he hoped the show would encourage a new generation of collectors, noting that collecting involves not only acquiring works but also displaying them and supporting others in the field.
The Oner Kocabeyoglu Collection presents "Passion and Patience” (Tutku ve Sabir), featuring 140 works by 91 artists from different generations and geographies, arranged around themes including identity, the body, myth, objects and color.
Levent Calikoglu curated the selection. Kocabeyoglu's full collection spans more than 2,000 works by close to 400 artists.
This marks his fourth collection exhibition at Artweeks, following two shows curated with Derya Yucel and one prior show with a different curatorial approach.
He said this edition is the first to combine international and young artists in one show, and pointed to a shortage of large exhibition spaces in Türkiye for collections of this scale.
Tansa Mermerci's collection, "Calm and Turmoil" (Sukun ve Galeyan), spans traditional to contemporary art and includes works by Nilbar Gures, Nil Yalter, Martin Creed and Yuji Agematsu.
Mermerci said the exhibition moves from a calmer, quieter floor toward floors with higher energy, which shaped the collection's title, adding that many of the featured artists are childhood friends whose shared themes and concerns informed her selections over time.
According to Bilgili Holding Chief Executive Officer Sinan Temo, the display marks the first time in Türkiye that multiple private collections have been opened to the public in a non-museum venue for two months free of charge.
Temo said collections reflect not only artworks but also the cultural memory of a period and the perspectives of the collectors who assembled them.
Artweeks Istanbul co-founder Sabiha Kurtulmus said bringing together three of Türkiye's major private collections within Akaretler's historic setting offers a new perspective on the art scene and could inspire a new generation of collectors.
The exhibition spans four historic buildings within Akaretler Siraevler, numbered A23, 25-27, 43 and 45. It is open daily except on Mondays, from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
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