Launched in 2011, by Mehveş Arıburnu and Suzanne Egeran, in a beautifully converted 19th-century wheat mill in the backstreets of Karaköy, Galeri Mana is at the forefront of Istanbul’s changing art market. Egeran parted ways with Mana, opening her own space, Egeran Gallery, also in Karaköy, in May 2012, which closed its doors in late 2013.

Mana Galeri’s success as a truly global platform for contemporary art was cemented in 2012 when it became the first Turkish gallery to represent the internationally-renowned video artist Kutluğ Ataman. Other important names from Turkey and beyond regularly have solo shows here and group efforts are intelligently curated. The gallery’s name comes from the Turkish word mana, meaning ‘concept’, and true to its name, the shows at Mana are thoroughly conceptual and endeavour to push the boundaries.

Mana’s roster includes the celebrated Armenian Turkish-born artist Sarkis; the photographic-artist duo Barbara and Zafer Baran, whose panoramic skyscapes inspire pure awe; Ayşe Erkmen, who produces immensely interesting site-specific installations and represented Turkey at the 2011 Venice Biennale; and the Berlin-based artist Alexander Wagner. Emerging, and very promising, Turkish talent includes Abbas Akhavan, Deniz Gül and Hera Büyüktaşçıyan.