While the Istanbul Modern renovates, the museum is housed in this temporary art space in Asmalimescit.

Since 2004, Istanbul Modern has become an institution in a city devoid of publicly-funded modern art museums. With a strong permanent collection of 20th-century Turkish art, it also hosts world-class temporary exhibitions. A separate photography gallery and a rich cinema programme spanning diverse genres and countries add to the museum’s appeal.

Istanbul Modern is such a suave, confident place – it is a shock to think that it is an entirely private creation, and pays a nice rent to the national maritime lines. Turkey is one of the few countries in the world not to have a national gallery, let alone a national modern art gallery.