Istanbul Modern Art Museum

Istanbul Modern, Turkey's first museum of modern and contemporary art, now occupies a striking Renzo Piano-designed building on the Bosphorus waterfront at Galataport, Karakoy (reopened 2023). It houses Turkish and international contemporary art across multiple gallery floors, with a rooftop terrace offering panoramic views of the historic peninsula and Galata Tower.

It was opened in 2004 with Levent Çalıkoğlu acting as the Director-General. The place displays authentic Turkish talent with great emphasis on bringing the local culture to a global level and provides support to artists in their efforts to secure partnerships with international labels. The top floor of the museum houses its permanent collection featuring artists such as Hoca Ali Riza and Nuri Iyem, a shop and a restaurant as well the space for various educational programmes that it hosts for art enthusiasts. The lower floor holds temporary exhibitions and the library. The museum will be shifting back to Karaköy and the new building will be inaugurated in the spring of 2022. It has been constructed under the great expertise of Renzo Piano and will offer visitors new exhibition areas, design shops and various activities.