Sevil Dolmaci Gallery in Istanbul is an iconic Building with a must-see Curation
Visiting the Sevil Dolmacı Gallery in İstanbul, in the historic Villa İpranosyan Building, was the highlight of my most recent Türkiye trip.
Visiting the Sevil Dolmacı Gallery in İstanbul was important to me, ever since I encountered the Sevil Dolmacı Dubai Gallery and met Ms Sevil Dolmacı in person. The professionalism and exquisite taste in the curation, the international caliber of the artists and the beauty of the space of the Gallery made me certain that visiting its İstanbul location would be just as impressive. I was right.
I visited Sevil Dolmacı Gallery in İstanbul on August 9, 2025 during my most recent visit to Türkiye. Sevil Dolmacı İstanbul was founded by art historian Sevil Dolmacı in 2020. The venue chosen is the historical landmark Villa İpranosyan Building, which is an early 20th-century building, unique in its design and still very well-preserved today, with a grandiose staircase and marble craftsmanship. The monument is the main gallery space of the Sevil Dolmacı Gallery, occupying four floors of exhibition space, a terrace with a view of the Bosphorus and a backyard.
The Garden of Sevil Dolmaci Gallery in Istanbul, with sculptures by Erwin Wurm and Thomas Schönauer (photo by the author)
Views of the interior staircase at Sevil Dolmaci Gallery in Istanbul (photos by the author)
Sevil Dolmacı has been leading institutional projects as an art consultant since 2013. In 2015, she established the Art Investment and Project Consulting LLC. After opening Sevil Dolmacı İstanbul, the need to grow in the region and access the international market would lead her to open Sevil Dolmacı Dubai Gallery in November of 2023. The gallery is located in D3 Dubai Design District, the heart of the Dubai art and design scene. It is in Dubai where I first encountered her gallery, her vision and her carefully curated selection of artists.
Arriving at the Villa İpranosyan Building, I was greeted by the team and led first into the garden space, where a comical Erwin Wurm sculpture coupled by an abstracted Thomas Schönauer creation created a modern and dynamic ambience, contrasting with the monumentality of the marble staircase and façade. The foyer entrance, well-lit and with a high ceiling, was bordered by another impressive staircase. The many rooms have patterned and colored ceilings, the floors are finished with pristine white marble. Overall, the history and legacy of the building is the perfect backdrop for, what I would discover to be, a carefully-curated selection of modern and contemporary paintings, sculptures, and installations/ wall-sculptures.
The street façade of Sevil Dolmaci Gallery in Istanbul (photo by the author)
Peter Halley artworks inside Sevil Dolmaci Gallery in Istanbul (photo by the author)
Peter Halley artworks contrasting with the interior of the Gallery walls (photo by the author)
The neon-bright colors of the works of Peter Halley, American neo-conceptual artist, contrast with the neutral tones of the walls of the gallery. In their geometry and abstraction, they allude to the urban landscape albeit with simplified color-fields, in the same spirit as Barnett Newman. The works offer an escape, while reminding us of the architectural forms that dominate the major cityscapes.
Johan Creten’s wall sculpture imitate floral forms using purple glazed stoneware with gold luster. This sculptor from Belgium explores the intimate world of the senses by creating a solid sculpture that actually replicates the softness of flower petals. The work is a delight, and blurs the line between sculpture and multi-sensory installation.
Chris Ellis, also known as ‘Daze’, is an American graffiti artist based in New York. His painting is his canvas, and the canvas is where his street art unfurls. He brings his skills in graffiti art into the world of the fine arts. His color choices, layering and combination of imagery with text makes the work his own.
Artwork by Johan Creten (photo by the author)
Artwork by Christ Ellis, a.k.a. ‘Daze’ (photo by the author)
I actually saw the Ross Bleckner painting in the Sevil Dolmacı Gallery in Dubai. In the vastness of the space in Dubai, the painting hung with a haunting message; the delicate details swirling in a strong message of memento mori. Here in İstanbul, the work feels more intimate. I was amazed how I had two different reactions to the same piece, just because of the change in the context. It is a true testimony to the versatility of Bleckner’s creations.
"I was amazed how I had two different reactions to the same piece, just because of the change in the context." maie el-hage
Jason Stopa, another American artist based in Brooklyn, New York, has his own take on the color-field. Here, the way that the forms are framed and with the contrast of the bold colors, makes the canvas feel like it has been excavated; slit, peeled off, and layered. He really makes this two-dimensional surface feel three-dimensional and multi-layered. I personally loved this work.
Artwork by Ross Bleckner exploring the theme of memento mori (photo by the author)
The author Maie El-Hage next to the Ross Bleckner painting at Sevil Dolmaci Gallery in Istanbul (photo by the author)
Artwork by Jason Stopa (photo by the author)
In another of the rooms, a large-scale painting dominated the space. Bosco Sodi, born in Mexico City, is an artist who works on textured surfaces. The painting feels like a relief-sculpture, with rich textures and painted in vibrant colors. Abstract works always have their appeal, but this particular piece is quite beautiful, especially the way the blue merges with the lavender. The overall theme of three-dimensional wall pieces was prevalent in the collection, I saw.
And last, but definitely not least, Georg Baselitz’s towering canvas captivates the viewer. With the gestural strokes of heavy paint in pastel colors, the work of this German painter, sculptor and graphic artist creates a boundary between violence and contemplation. His work is known to have had a profound influence on the international art scene.
Artwork by Bosco Sodi (photo by the author)
Artwork by Georg Baselitz (photo by the author)
Whimsical sculpture by Erwin Wurm in the garden (photo by the author)
I concluded my tour of Sevil Dolmacı İstanbul Gallery with a visit to the terrace. The breathtaking view of the Bosphorus centered me, and I felt that this gallery, this building is an important part of the urban and cultural fabric of the wonderful city of İstanbul. The vision and leadership of Sevil Dolmacı will ensure that talented and valued local and international artists will get the exposure they deserve. I am so glad I made the journey, and I invite you all to do the same.
The author Maie El-Hage at Sevil Dolmaci Gallery in Istanbul (photo by the author)
The captivating Villa Ipranosyan, the site of the Sevil Dolmaci Gallery in Istanbul (photo by the author)
The current exhibition at Sevil Dolmacı Gallery in İstanbul is a solo show for Peter Kogler, which opened on 15 September and will run until 17 October 2025. Make sure to visit and see the show!
Follow Sevil Dolmacı Gallery on Instagram here.
Follow Sevil Dolmacı Art Consultancy on Instagram here.
Follow the author Maie El-Hage on Instagram here.
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