“The Art of Photography” Istanbul is a new annual series dedicated to photography, joining Istanbul’s cultural calendar with its first edition. Organised by the independent art platform ArtRedCo, the series takes shape around a different theme each year, with the aim of bringing contemporary photographic production into visibility.
The first exhibition in the series — The Art of Photography Istanbul I: Rooms / Odalar — runs from 26 March to 14 April at Meşrutiyet 76. The exhibition is conceived in response to the venue’s multi-room structure, with each room devoted to a single artist’s work and transformed into an independent narrative space. Distinct aesthetic approaches and modes of storytelling thus come together under one roof, making visible the plural nature of photography as a medium. The initiative aims to create space for the art of photography, bring together artists from different generations, and open up discussion around the discipline’s current concerns — with plans to expand beyond exhibitions through a programme of accompanying events. The Art of Photography Istanbul is positioned as a long-term platform committed to strengthening photography’s place within contemporary art.
The exhibition brings together works by Ahmet Sel, Ali Bilge Akkaya, Ali Taptık, Arif Aşçı, Ateş Alpar, Berge Arabian, Can Kabba, Cemal Emden, Cihan Öncü, Denef Huvaj, Devin Oktar Yalkın, Ece Nur Saygın, Emre Baykal, Gökay Çatak, Haluk Çobanoğlu, Kerem Kaplangı, Lale Tara, Laleper Aytek, Mustafa Boğa, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Reha Arcan, Reyhan Mente, Sami Kısaoğlu, Shirin Neshat, Suzan Pektaş, and Tahsin Aydoğmuş.
Founded in 2024 by Hülya Kızılırmak, ArtRedCo is an independent platform dedicated to supporting artists in their processes of production, development, and exchange. Through exhibitions and publishing projects, the platform works to foster collaborations within the contemporary art field and to create space for new work.
