Arter Contemporary Art Museum

Overview

Arter is Istanbul's flagship contemporary art museum, designed by Grimshaw Architects and opened in 2019 in a striking six-storey glass-and-steel building in Dolapdere, housing the Vehbi Koç Foundation's growing collection.

Highlights

• Collection: Over 1,400 works of modern and contemporary art by Turkish and international artists.
• Architecture: The translucent façade shifts between opacity and transparency depending on light conditions.
• Performance space: A basement black-box theatre for video art, live performance and sound installations.

History

Arter began as a small gallery on İstiklal Avenue in 2010 before relocating to its purpose-built Dolapdere home, signalling Istanbul's contemporary art scene's maturation.

Visitor Tips

• Tip: Free admission on Thursdays. Check the website for current exhibitions.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.