Ksenia Mardina
Contemporary art galleries as a new alternative to Istanbul's signature antiquity.
Akbank Sanat
A nice venue in the gallery-packed Beyoglu. The place is home to student projects and local artists, a film and jazz fest and contemporary dance show. It also has an art library and a cafe – grab a book and wait for your Taksim Square date.
Artet
An Istiklal gallery with lots of interesting stuff – mainly installations that completely transform the place. One day you find coffins everywhere or no furniture at all - bare walls and a light bulb. Its five floors will show you everything you need to know about contemporary Turkish art - video, art objects and paintings – the best such place after Istanbul Modern.
Galerist
The gallery boasts a nice location in the old Istiklal mansion as it exhibits the most important Turkish artists – Leyla Gediz and Haluk Akakce are considered living classics. Sometimes they surprisingly display photos by Hussein Chalayan. The place is especially interesting compared to surrounding galleries with students' works.
Pilot Gallery
The hub of extravaganza – chicken breast portraits and carpets with embroidered faces of Turkish bloggers. The place is housed in a hippy club of the 1960s and this definitely affects the owners – the dullest exhibition they offer is a video of a flood in McDonalds. The Beyoglu location makes it impossible to miss.