Dr. Nazan Ölçer, who has provided visionary leadership to the Sakıp Sabancı Museum (SSM) since 2003, will step down on February 3, passing the torch to Professor Dr. Ahu Antmen. Dr. Antmen has been a member of the SSM Board of Directors since 2018 and is a respected academic in the arts.
Under Dr. Ölçer’s leadership, SSM transformed into one of Turkey’s most esteemed cultural institutions. Her commitment to realizing Sakıp Sabancı’s vision for the arts brought international acclaim to the museum. During her tenure, SSM hosted groundbreaking exhibitions featuring masterpieces by globally celebrated artists, including Picasso, Rodin, Joseph Beuys, Salvador Dalí, Rembrandt, Monet, Ai Weiwei, Anish Kapoor, Marina Abramović, David Hockney, and Georg Baselitz. These exhibitions not only delighted art lovers but also cemented SSM’s reputation as a world-class museum.
Dr. Ölçer’s influence extended beyond exhibitions. Her leadership elevated the museum as a platform for cultural exchange, bolstered by her esteemed reputation in the global museum community and the steadfast support of the Sabancı Family. Under her guidance, SSM established pioneering collaborations with leading museums worldwide. Moreover, SSM’s contributions to contemporary museology were multifaceted, encompassing educational programs for all ages, scholarly publications, and dynamic events, which made it a living hub of culture and learning.
As Dr. Ahu Antmen takes on the directorship, she aims to build on this legacy, ensuring that SSM continues to inspire future generations as a vibrant center of art and culture. With her academic expertise and deep connection to the museum, Prof. Dr. Antmen is poised to lead SSM into an exciting new chapter, further strengthening its role as a beacon of creativity and innovation in Turkey and beyond.
