Istanbul/Munich. Contemporary Istanbul, Turkey’s
leading international art fair, will celebrate its 20th edition from
24–28 September 2025 at Tersane Istanbul. The 2025 edition reflects
two decades of growth for the fair, which has become a vital meeting
point for collectors, artists, and institutions from across the region
and beyond. This year’s fair programme includes a curated selection of
galleries from around the world, landmark institutional
collaborations, and the debut of a new public light art festival
across Istanbul’s Golden Horn. As part of the BMW Art Car World Tour,
the very first BMW Art Car, designed by Alexander Calder, and the
latest addition to the collection by Julie Mehretu #20 will be
exhibited on the ground.
Contemporary Istanbul takes its place on the global stage as part of
the ever-expanding BMW Art Car World Tour, a journey that will span
continents and continue well into 2026. Marking the 50th anniversary
of this iconic series, the tour brings together a constellation of
exhibitions across five continents, enriched by a vibrant array of
events. With Istanbul now joining the ranks of world capitals and
premier cultural gatherings, the city cements its status as a vital
hub in the international art landscape. The exhibited Art Cars will be
shown side by side for the first time in Turkey at the BMW Lounge in
the partner section of Contemporary Istanbul and reflect the breadth
and diversity of the BMW Art Car Collection. A dedicated BMW Art Talk
as part of the fair’s CIF Dialogues featuring Head of BMW Group
Cultural Engagement Thomas Girst will dive deep into the history and
individual anecdotes of the 20 rolling sculptures.
Alexander Calder’s BMW 3.0 CSL laid the foundation
for the iconic series when French racing driver and art dealer Hervé
Poulain, together with then BMW Head of Motorsport Jochen Neerpasch,
asked his artist friend Calder to paint a car. The completely
reimagined 3.0 CSL patterned in red, yellow, blue, and white went on
to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1975 and became a crowd
favorite. Alexander Calder (1898-1976) was an American sculptor and
artist and is regarded as one of the most influential exponents of
Classical Modernism. He began his career as an engineer before turning
to art. His most famous works are his mobiles – light, free-moving
sculptures that are set in motion by air currents or electric motors –
and his static, often-monumental metal sculptures known as “stabiles”.
The Ethiopian born, New York based abstract painter Julie
Mehretu created the latest and 20th car in the collection
from a BMW M Hybrid V8 in 2024 where it premiered at
the Centre Pompidou in Paris and hit the racetrack at the 24 Hours of
Le Mans. Space, movement, and energy have always been central motifs
in Mehretu’s work. For her Art Car design she transformed a
two-dimensional image into a three-dimensional representation, with
which she succeeded in bringing dynamism into form. Mehretu used the
color and form vocabulary of her monumental painting “Everywhen”
(2021-2023) as a starting point for her design. Its abstract visual
form results from digitally altered photographs, which are
superimposed in several layers of dot grids, neon-colored veils, and
the black markings characteristic of Mehretu’s work.
The BMW Art Car World Tour charts an ambitious course, with stops at
prestigious destinations such as Art Basel Hong Kong, Le Mans Classic
in France, Belgium’s Zoute Grand Prix, the Shanghai Motor Show in
China, and Italy’s Concorso d’Eleganza, among others. Showcasing the
collection of 20 iconic BMW Art Cars, the tour serves as a testament
to the company’s deep-rooted commitment to global cultural
engagement—spanning more than a hundred initiatives across
contemporary art, music, film, and design.
Contemporary Istanbul 2025 highlights and institutional
collaborations
Contemporary Istanbul’s 20th fair edition
also deepens its engagement with leading museums and art organisations
worldwide. Special presentations will include contributions from the
UBS Digital Art Museum (Hamburg), Palais de Tokyo (Paris), Asia
Society (New York), Mori Art Museum (Tokyo), Sigg Art Foundation (Le
Castellet), Barjeel Art Foundation (Sharjah), and others, underlining
the fair’s commitment to international dialogue.
CI 20 focus: America
The fair’s curated Focus
Section this year will spotlight the contemporary art scene in the
United States, with a particular emphasis on New York. Titled Focus
America, the programme will explore the country’s role in shaping
global cultural narratives and foster new connections among artists,
curators, and collectors. Institutional leaders from major US museums
will take part in a series of panels, exhibitions, and networking events.
Introducing the Golden Horn Light Festival
In
parallel with the fair, the Contemporary Istanbul Foundation (CIF)
will launch the inaugural Golden Horn Light Festival from 18–28
September 2025. This new initiative brings together large- and
small-scale light and digital art installations along Istanbul’s
historic shoreline. Featuring newly commissioned works by emerging
talents alongside established names, the festival reimagines the
Golden Horn as a platform for public engagement and visual storytelling.
CIF Dialogues: “Dispersing Coordinates”
CIF’s
annual conference, “Dialogues”, returns this year under the theme
“Dispersing Coordinates: Istanbul and the Shifting Map of Art.” The
programme will reflect on global cultural shifts and Istanbul’s
evolving position in the art world. Confirmed speakers include
Jennifer Stockman (Honorary President, Guggenheim Museum), Anne
Pasternak (Director, Brooklyn Museum), and Ahu Antmen (Director, Sakıp
Sabancı Museum).
For more information and press accreditation:
www.contemporaryistanbul.com
Contemporary Istanbul Dates
24 September:
Preview
25 – 28 September: General Admission
BMW Lounge
presence at Rixos Tersane Partner Section
BMW Art Talk at CIF
Dialogues, 24 September at 3:30pm
The BMW Group’s Cultural Engagement, with exclusive updates and
deeper insights into its global initiatives can be followed on
Instagram at @BMWGroupCulture.