Kibele Art Gallery presents 56 works by sculptor Ayla Turan, reflecting her 30-year artistic output, to art lovers until May 11, 2026. The exhibition can be visited free of charge every day between 09:00 and 19:00.
Ayla Turan, one of the important names in Turkish sculpture, presents her thirty years of uninterrupted production to art lovers with a comprehensive retrospective exhibition. The İş Sanat Kibele Art Gallery in Levent, Istanbul, hosts more than 50 works shedding light on Turan's artistic evolution in its first exhibition of 2026. Opening its doors on February 9th, the exhibition brings together the artist's world, shaped by different materials such as marble, bronze, wood, and polyester, in a single atmosphere.
TRACES OF A THIRTY-YEAR JOURNEY: 56 ORIGINAL WORKS
Ayla Turan, who describes the three decades she has left behind in her artistic life as "sifting through old albums," aims to carry the testimony of the past into the future with this exhibition. The 56 works in the exhibition reflect not only Turan's technical skill but also her emotional depth and perspective on social issues. While the artist states that this exhibition is a "stopping point" and "a deep breath" for her, she also invites the viewers on a journey into her inner world. The exhibition brings together the actors and times of different periods in Turan's career on the same stage.
THE INNOCENCE OF CHILDHOOD AND DYNAMIC FORMS
The concept of childhood holds a central place in Ayla Turan's artistic practice. Approaching childhood from sociological, theological, and psychological perspectives with a minimalist approach, the artist concretizes this colorful world with smooth white surfaces and pure forms. The humorous and dynamic structure frequently seen in her sculptures, while not giving the works physical movement, evokes a constant sense of dynamism in the viewer. Approaching the figures she chooses from daily life with childlike curiosity, Turan encourages the viewer to go beyond what is visible and seek deeper social meanings.
**Ayla Turan's Art Through the Eyes of Prof. Dr. Marcus Graf**
In the catalog essay supporting the curatorial depth of the exhibition, Prof. Dr. Marcus Graf emphasizes the cornerstones of Turan's art. According to Graf, Turan is a name that expands the boundaries of sculpture with her independence and calm determination. Stating that the exhibition makes visible the intimate connections between the artist's life and art, Graf expresses that Turan's practice carries important clues about the world we share. Born in Hamburg and a graduate of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Turan continues to exhibit her art in many different parts of the world, from China to Mexico, from France to South Korea, with her public space sculptures.
VISITING AND ACCESS INFORMATION
The "Ayla Turan Retrospective" exhibition, expected to attract great interest from art enthusiasts, offers a unique opportunity for those who want to observe the stages of modern sculpture. Details about the exhibition are as follows:
Exhibition Dates: February 9 - May 11, 2026
Visiting Hours: Daily 09:00 - 19:00
Admission: Free
Location: İş Sanat Kibele Art Gallery, Levent, Istanbul
Publication: The exhibition catalog is available on the Türkiye İş Bankası Cultural Publications website and in selected bookstores.
Source: https://www.karar.com/kultur-sanat-haberleri/ayla-turanin-30-yillik-sanat-yolculugu-kibele-sanat-galerisinde-2028814