It is always exciting to step into the world of master figures who have shaped Turkey’s cultural and artistic history, leaving indelible marks not only as artists but also as educators and writers. Founded by Garanti BBVA, Salt is preparing to open the autumn season with precisely such a comprehensive and inspiring research project. Focusing on the multifaceted work of artist, academic, and thinker Özer Kabaş (1934–1998) spanning from the 1960s to the 1990s, the exhibition “Overseas: Özer Kabaş and His Times” (Denizaşırı: Özer Kabaş ve Zamanları) will meet art lovers at Salt Beyoğlu from September 16, 2026, to March 14, 2027.
Offering an exceptionally in-depth look at Turkey’s cultural scene from the 1960s through the ’90s, the exhibition brings together rich archival documents alongside Kabaş’s signature work—not only on his canvases, but also in his original prints, jewelry designs, and creative pursuits in theater and cinema. Covering an expansive timeframe extending from Kabaş’s student years at Robert College to his long-standing academic tenure at Mimar Sinan University, this selection reveals the artist’s interdisciplinary curiosity, his innovative approach to art education, and his lasting contributions to Turkey’s intellectual climate.
This exhibition represents the grandest fruit of a long-term archiving and research endeavor meticulously carried out by Salt since 2022. Bringing together Kabaş’s writings on art history and pedagogy, the study titled Synthesis and Montage: Özer Kabaş Writings (Sentez ve Montaj: Özer Kabaş Yazıları) was previously contributed to the literature as an e-publication and printed book, while his extensive personal archive was simultaneously made accessible online. Now, this monumental archive and universe of thought translates into a tangible, physical experience in the exhibition spaces of Salt Beyoğlu, at the heart of İstiklal Avenue. Özer Kabaş’s multifaceted world of creation and the unwavering bond he forged with his time will be waiting to be discovered on İstiklal Avenue starting in mid-September.
