Located in the historical district of Dolapdere in Istanbul, PILEVNELI Gallery is the realisation of Murat Pilevneli’s long-term ambition to mark an exciting newchapter in the contemporary art scene in Istanbul and the region with an international perspective.

Designed by Emre Arolat Architecture, winner of notable international awards, the gallery encompasses a 1.500 square meter vast exhibition space.
Only a year after PILEVNELI Dolapdere’s opening, PILEVNELI Mecidiyeköy opened at the historic Liquor and Cognac Factory building. With an exhibition of scale and content that has never been done before, and has shone light upon the cultural and historical significance of the “Mecidiyeköy Liquor and Cognac Factory” that was built by Atatürk’s orders during the early 1930’s by renowned French architect Robert Mallet Stevens. With 4.000 square meters of indoor and 5.500 square meters of outdoor space, the factory in P?LEVNEL?’s use opened with an exhibition titled “AT THE FACTORY: 10 ARTISTS / 10 INDIVIDUAL PRACTICES” that was seen by over 38.000 visitors. PILEVNELI Gallery has a vibrant and engaging exhibition programme profiling local and international artists which is solely focused on contemporary art.

PILEVNELI Gallery aims to bring stimulating worldviews to Istanbul by hosting international artists and presenting several contemporary Turkish artists in a local and global context. The exhibition programme is accompanied by a range of activities including artist’s talks, related book launches, private exhibition tours and similar projects.

For over 20 years Murat Pilevneli has been one of the main actors of the contemporary art scene in Istanbul. Pilevneli initiated Galerist in 2001 and ran it until 2011. He is also the founder of Turkey’s leading arts and culture publication IstanbulArtNews. Contributing to pioneering institutions, movements and trends in the contemporary art scene, Pilevneli Gallery is his latest project.