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Istanbul Modern Opens Renzo Piano-Designed Building with Five New Exhibitions

exhibition · 2026-04-22

On Thursday, 4 May, Istanbul Modern will unveil its new structure, crafted by Renzo Piano, marking his inaugural project in Turkey. Spanning 10,500 square metres, the building features a façade made of 3D-formed reflective aluminum panels. Situated along the historic Karaköy waterfront, the facility boasts expanded galleries, a photography gallery, a public library, a 156-seat auditorium, educational spaces, a café, and a shop. The reopening will be celebrated with five new exhibitions: Floating Islands, showcasing over 280 pieces by 112 artists; Always Here, featuring 17 works by 11 Turkish women artists; and In Another Place, presenting 22 portraits by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. Additionally, site-specific installations include contributions from Olafur Eliasson and Refik Anadol, alongside outdoor sculptures by various artists.

Key facts

  • Istanbul Modern's new building designed by Renzo Piano opens 4 May.
  • It is Piano's first project in Turkey.
  • The building spans 10,500 square metres with 3D-formed reflective aluminum panels.
  • Located at the original Karaköy waterfront location.
  • Five new exhibitions debut: Floating Islands, Always Here, In Another Place, Genius Loci, Constructing Architecture.
  • Floating Islands features over 280 works by 112 artists including Fahrelnissa Zeid, Ayşe Erkmen, Gülsün Karamustafa, Nil Yalter, Alicja Kwade, Laure Prouvost.
  • Always Here displays 17 works by 11 women artists from Turkey, acquired through the Women Artists Fund.
  • In Another Place shows 22 never-before-seen portraits by Nuri Bilge Ceylan.
  • Site-specific installations by Olafur Eliasson and Refik Anadol.
  • Outdoor sculptures by Adrian Villar Rojas, Richard Deacon, Tony Cragg, Anselm Reyle, Yılmaz Zenger, Selma Gürbüz.

Entities

Artists

  • Renzo Piano
  • Fahrelnissa Zeid
  • Ayşe Erkmen
  • Gülsün Karamustafa
  • Nil Yalter
  • Alicja Kwade
  • Laure Prouvost
  • Nuri Bilge Ceylan
  • Olafur Eliasson
  • Refik Anadol
  • Adrian Villar Rojas
  • Richard Deacon
  • Tony Cragg
  • Anselm Reyle
  • Yılmaz Zenger
  • Selma Gürbüz

Institutions

  • Istanbul Modern
  • Women Artists Fund

Locations

  • Istanbul
  • Turkey
  • Karaköy
  • Bosphorus

Sources