The artists participating in the 18th Istanbul Biennial, which will take place from September 20 to November 23, have been announced. Curated by Christine Tohmé, the biennial titled The Three-Legged Cat will showcase works by nearly 50 artists from over 30 countries across eight different venues in its first phase. Featuring six artists from Turkey, the 18th Istanbul Biennial will unfold in three phases between 2025 and 2027. Artists were selected following an open call and studio visits held between October 31 and December 15, 2024. The first phase, open to the public free of charge from September 20 to November 23, 2025, will focus on the themes of “self-preservation” and “possible futures.” Works by 47 artists will be exhibited across eight venues along the Beyoğlu–Karaköy axis. During the opening week, live performances, film screenings, and DJ sets will take place.
Artists Featured in the First Phase of the Biennial
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Haig Aivazian (b. 1980) – born and based in Beirut
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Abdullah Al Saadi (b. 1967) – born and based in Khor Fakkan
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Ana Alenso (b. 1982) – born in Caracas, based in Berlin
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Willy Aractingi (1930–2003) – born in New York, lived in Paris and Lebanon, died in Barcelona
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Karimah Ashadu (b. 1985) – born in London, based in Hamburg and Lagos
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Mona Benyamin (b. 1997) – born in Haifa, based in Haifa and New York
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Chen Ching-Yuan (b. 1984) – born in Tainan, based in Taipei
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Ian Davis (b. 1972) – born in Indianapolis, based in Los Angeles
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Nolan Oswald Dennis (b. 1988) – born in Lusaka, based in Johannesburg
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İpek Duben (b. 1941) – born and based in Istanbul
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Celina Eceiza (b. 1988) – born in Tandil, based in Buenos Aires
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Ali Eyal (b. 1994) – born in Baghdad, based in Los Angeles
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Eva Fàbregas (b. 1988) – born and based in Barcelona
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Simone Fattal (b. 1942) – born in Damascus, based in Paris
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Lou Fauroux (b. 1998) – born in Mulhouse, based in Seine-Saint-Denis
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Pélagie Gbaguidi (b. 1965) – born in Dakar, based in Brussels
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Lungiswa Gqunta (b. 1990) – born in Gqeberha, based in Cape Town
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Rafik Greiss (b. 1997) – born in Cairo, based in Paris
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Ola Hassanain (b. 1985) – born in Khartoum, based in Utrecht
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Doruntina Kastrati (b. 1991) – born in Prizren, based in Pristina
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Jasleen Kaur (b. 1986) – born in Glasgow, based in London
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Şafak Şule Kemancı (b. 1975) – born and based in Istanbul
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Kongkee (b. 1977) – born in Sarawak, based in Hong Kong and London
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Seta Manoukian (b. 1945) – born in Beirut, based in Los Angeles
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Mona Marzouk (b. 1968) – born in Alexandria, based in Helsinki
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Merve Mepa (b. 1985) – born in Kocaeli, based in Istanbul
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Valentin Noujaïm (b. 1991) – born in Angers, based in Paris and Athens
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Claudia Pagès Rabal (b. 1990) – born and based in Barcelona
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Pilar Quinteros (b. 1988) – born in Santiago, based in Basel
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Khalil Rabah (b. 1961) – born in Jerusalem, based in Ramallah
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Jagdeep Raina (b. 1991) – born in Guelph, based in New York
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Marwan Rechmaoui (b. 1964) – born and based in Beirut
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Naomi Rincón-Gallardo (b. 1979) – born in North Carolina, based in Oaxaca and Mexico City
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Riar Rizaldi (b. 1990) – born in Bandung, based in Yogyakarta
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Lara Saab (b. 1991) – born in Montreal, based in Beirut
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Sara Sadik (b. 1994) – born in Bordeaux, based in Marseille
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Stéphanie Saadé (b. 1983) – born in Beirut, based in Beirut and Paris
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Sohail Salem (b. 1974) – born and based in Gaza
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Elif Saydam (b. 1985) – born in Calgary, based in Berlin and İzmir
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Selma Selman (b. 1991) – born in Bihać, based in Amsterdam, New York, and Bihać
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Natasha Tontey (b. 1989) – born in Minahasa, based in Yogyakarta and Jakarta
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Sevil Tunaboylu (b. 1982) – born and based in Istanbul
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VASKOS (d. 2014) – Vassilis Noulas (b. 1975, New York) and Kostas Tzimoulis (b. 1974, Thessaloniki), based in Athens
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Ana Vaz (b. 1986) – born in Brasília, based in Paris
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Dilek Winchester (b. 1974) – born and based in Istanbul
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Akram Zaatari (b. 1966) – born in Sidon, based in Beirut
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Ayman Zedani (b. 1984) – born in Abha, based in Riyadh and Sharjah
Current List of Artists Participating in Public Programs
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Lawrence Abu Hamdan (b. 1985) – born in Amman, based in Dubai and Beirut
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Samar Al Summary (b. 1988) – born in Jeddah, based in Los Angeles
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Alex Baczyński-Jenkins (b.1987) – born in London, based in Berlin
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Krzysztof Bagiński (b. 1989) – born in Trzebiatów, based in Berlin
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Ronald Berger (b. 1990) – born in Alajuela, based in Berlin
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Ewa Dziarnowska (b. 1991) – born in Lubin, based in Berlin
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Ahmad Ghossein (b. 1981) – born in Nabatieh, based in Beirut
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Maxime Hourani (b. 1982) – born and based in Beirut
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Meho Huskić (b. 1994) – born and based in Bihać
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Rafal Pierzynski (b. 1991) – born in Bełchatów, based in Zurich
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Suneil Sanzgiri (b. 1989) – born in Dallas, based in New York
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Selma Selman (b. 1991) – born in Bihać, based in Amsterdam, New York, and Bihać
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Sigrid Stigsdatter Mathiassen (b. 1990) – born in Ringkøbing-Skjern, based in Copenhagen and Amsterdam
18th Istanbul Biennial
The 18th Istanbul Biennial, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) and curated by Christine Tohmé, will be held free of charge for visitors, sponsored by Koç Holding (Biennial Sponsor 2007–2036). The first phase of the biennial will take place from September 20 to November 23, 2025, with press previews on September 16–19 and professional previews on September 18–19, 2025.
Titled The Three-Legged Cat, the biennial’s first phase will offer a route across eight venues in Beyoğlu and Karaköy, intersecting the city’s multicultural past with contemporary art. The Galata Greek School will host the biennial again after extensive restoration, while Zihni Han and the nearby Muradiye Han, appearing for the first time in Karaköy, connect the area’s commercial history with art. Building No. 35 on Meclis-i Mebusan Street and Galeri 77 serve as other stops in Karaköy, while the former production site, Külah Factory, will be transformed into an art space this year. The Garden of the Old French Orphanage on Boğazkesen Street offers visitors a historical and physical pause, and Elhamra Han on İstiklal Street stands out as one of the biennial’s symbolic stops in Beyoğlu.
As part of the 18th Istanbul Biennial, an academy is planned to be established in 2026, and a series of public programs will be developed in collaboration with local initiatives. The Biennial will conclude in 2027 with an exhibition and workshop program presenting the outcomes of these processes.
The Advisory Board of the 18th Istanbul Biennial includes academic and critic Ahu Antmen, curator Lydia Gatundu Galavu, artist Gözde İlkin, researcher, curator, and artistic director Renan Laru-an, as well as curator and museum director Sally Tallant.
