Dear Friends,

This September, I will be honored to take part in the 20th edition of Contemporary Istanbul, representing AWC Contemporary Gallery at Hall A, Stand A-115.

For me, portraiture in oil has always been more than likeness. It is an act of witnessing. Each canvas becomes a dialogue between presence and absence, between what the eye sees and what memory preserves. In the slow layering of paint, time itself is stretched each brushstroke an echo of stillness in a restless world.

The human face, with all its fragility and strength, remains an inexhaustible subject. It reminds us that individuality is infinite, yet profoundly universal. At Contemporary Istanbul, I will present works that attempt to capture this paradox portraits that are both personal and collective, intimate yet resonant beyond the frame.

Event details
Dates: 24–28 September 2025 (Preview: 24 September)
Venue: Tersane İstanbul
Stand: Hall A, A-115

Contemporary Istanbul, now in its 20th year, is not only a meeting place for artists and collectors, but a living archive of how art mirrors our age. To be part of this edition is to step into that larger conversation.
I welcome you to join me there, to encounter these works in person, and perhaps to recognize in a painted face some reflection of your own story.

With gratitude,
Simay