Pavilion of Türkiye, Venice Biennale

Italy

Since 2013, SAHA provides support for the production of new artworks and monographic publications of the artists invited to the Venice Biennale’s main exhibition or to the Pavilion of Turkey. SAHA is among the 21 supporters of the Pavilion of Turkey's permanent venue. Through the allocation of this space at the Arsenale for the 2014-2034 period, Pavilion of Turkey has been alternately participating in International Architecture Exhibition and International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale since 2014. 

The Türkiye Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale Has Opened

This year, the Türkiye Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, coordinated by IKSV, is hosting Nilbar Güreş’s exhibition A Kiss on the Eyes. Curated by Başak Doğa Temür, the exhibition will be on view at the Arsenale, one of the main venues of the Venice Biennale, between 9 May - 22 November 2026.

Addressing themes of gender, migration, belonging, and everyday power structures throughout her artistic practice, Nilbar Güreş’s exhibition at the Türkiye Pavilion brings together works from different periods alongside new productions. The exhibition presents figures in states of transition, revealing the tensions embedded within social norms while inviting viewers to reconsider established ways of seeing. Spanning photography, collage, and oil painting to sculpture and installation, and incorporating materials ranging from fabric, macramé, wool, and brass to wood and everyday objects, the diverse use of media opens up a space of expression shaped by both personal and collective memory.

The exhibition takes its title from the Turkish expression “gözlerinizden öperim” (“a kiss on the eyes”), often used to close a letter or conversation. The phrase gestures toward a nuanced way of coexisting with others—one that neither claims ownership over nor diminishes the other.

In 2024 Venice Biennale 60th International Art Exhibition Pavilion Of Türkiye Welcomed Gülsün Karamustafa

The Türkiye Pavilion of the Venice Biennale, coordinated by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, presents a new biennial-exclusive work by Gülsün Karamustafa, one of the women artists who profoundly influenced Turkish contemporary art and established a respected place in the world, at the 60th International Art Exhibition between 20 April - 24 November 2024. SAHA provides production and publication support for the artist.

About the Venice Biennale 

The Venice Biennale is an international art biennial held every two years in Venice, Italy, with the aim of exhibiting, promoting and discussing modern and contemporary art. The first biennial was organized in Venice in 1895. In 1968, the biennial was officially renamed the "International Art Exhibition".  The biennial consists of two main parts: national participations and curatorial exhibitions. National participations consist of pavilions where representatives of different countries exhibit their works, while curatorial exhibitions feature the works of artists selected around a theme or concept. The Venice Biennale is considered an important meeting point in the art world and continues to contribute to the development of contemporary art. 

About the Pavilion of Türkiye

The Pavilion of Türkiye at the Venice Biennale is the exhibition venue that organizes rotating art exhibitions every year and represents Türkiye at the Venice Biennale by adopting the model of national representation. The Pavilion was launched in 2003 with the support of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The first Pavilion of Türkiye was curated and directed by Beral Madra, who was leading the Türkiye's participation in the Venice Biennale. Since 2007, the Pavilion of Türkiye has been organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV). In the following period, with the initiative of IKSV and the contributions of 21 supporters, Türkiye was allocated a space at the Arsenale as part of the Venice Biennale from 2014 to 2034.