Istanbul Modern Museum
The Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, Turkey’s first private museum to organize modern and contemporary art exhibitions, was founded in 2004 and occupies an 8,000 square meter site on the shores of the Bosphorus.
Istanbul Modern Museum is the big daddy of a slew of newish, privately funded art galleries in the city. Its stunning location on the shores of the Bosphorus and its extensive collection of Turkish 20th-century art make it well worth a visit. The icing on the cake is provided by a constantly changing and uniformly excellent program of exhibitions by local and international artists in the exhibition galleries on the ground floor. Istanbul Modern embraces a global vision to collect, preserve, exhibit and document works of modern and contemporary art and make them accessible to art lovers.
As part of its commitment to sharing Turkey’s artistic creativity with wide audiences and promoting its cultural identity in the international art world, Istanbul Modern hosts a broad array of interdisciplinary activities.
Apart from permanent and temporary exhibition galleries, a photography gallery, and spaces for educational and social programs, the museum offers a cinema, restaurant, design store and an extensive library.
There’s also a well-stocked gift shop, a cinema that shows art-house films and a stylish cafe-restaurant with superb views of the Bosphorus.
Istanbul Modern is in a prime location and is easy to get to on foot from Taksim Square (if you are prepared for a longer walk). Entry is 15 TL which is very reasonable for the size of the collection.
You could easily spend 3-4 hours here. The restaurant/bar overlooks the Bosphorus (when there is not a cruise ship parked in front of it !) and is a perfect place to grab a quick lunch or snack. Make sure to check out the museum gift shop great gifts not found in the rest of the city.
I was very impressed with the collection–fresh and vibrant. Very different from anything I've seen before.Very beautiful, mostly Turkish artists I believe. Also, it is not too big so it is not overwhelming. A must see for artists and art enthusiasts!
I've seen most of the major modern art museums, although I am not a connoisseur. I was skeptical that this one would measure up. I was wrong. It is a fantastic collection, slightly different interpretation of "modern" but stunning delivery and presentation. The building is perfect, glistening in the sun off the Bosphorus; good light in the galleries.
The museum is bigger than we expected and quite nice. They have a large number of documentary/multimedia installations and that made us very happy. The photography exhibit "Close Quarters" was nice too but those keep changing. The permanent exhibit on the first floor is intriguing.
This museum was one of the highlights of my time in Istanbul. It had many outstanding art works, complex and moving videos interspersed throughout and an outstanding (albeit expensive) cafe. Loved the museum.
A unique place to feel the complexity that is/was Istambul, a place were we can understand too very diferent cultures living side by side.
This new structure gave you the idea of how wealthy some familes in Turkey can be most of the item's were from one family and their private collection the garden's were being remodled but what was there was nice.
if you are into modern artists and videothings, then this is just what you have to visit. It is a reasonable big museum (pictures not allowed inside!); the prices in the bar are a bit overpriced.
A nice diversion even if you don't like modern art. My only "complaint" is the prohibition on photography and the lack of available postcards of the much of the art.
This museum another must in turkey.go there and renjoy every minute you spending there.after that go sea side and give break for waterpipe
Unique exhibits and videos. A little expensive for what you see / experience in my opinion but cool different art and nice view from back balcony. Also note that when its time to close they close, no exceptions. We practically had the doors closed on us and had to leave out of the back restaurant exit!