Istanbul Gallery Dirimart Begins Expanding Abroad with Outpost in Mayfair
The Turkish gallery’s new London location at the heart of Mayfair will mark a first step in its international expansion plans when it opens later this year. Save to My OculaAn Istanbul gallery has set its sights beyond Turkey with a third location set to open in the heart of Mayfair later this year.
Founded in 2002, Dirimart reports being the first gallery to exhibit international artists like Shirin Neshat, Sarah Morris, and Hermann Nitsch in Turkey, and will now expand its activities of ‘global collaboration’ and ‘intergenerational exchange’ with the new London location.
Boasting 275 square metres of exhibition space, the new site will support its vision to showcase Turkish artists, including Berlin-based conceptual artist Ayşe Erkmen and painter İnci Eviner, alongside international artists like British sculptor Tony Cragg and Japanese-American painter Tomokazu Matsuyama ‘in a context that fosters critical dialogue and cultural exchange’.
Founder Hazer Özil called it a ‘bold step forward in advancing our international aspirations and solidifying our identity as a global gallery’.
‘While our origins are rooted in Turkey, our London gallery aims to establish itself as a global space, embracing diversity in our artistic roster rather than being confined by geographic boundaries,’ he said.
An inaugural exhibition by Erkmen (I still insist, 9 September–4 October 2025), who represented Turkey at the 2011 Venice Biennale, will bring together seven of the artist’s works, with new works responding to the gallery’s move.
Exhibitions by German painter Karin Kneffel and Turkish artist Sarkis, another Turkish Pavilion exhibitor from 2015, will follow in October and November through to January 2026. —[O]
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