Since the early 1980s, Sevda and Can Elgiz have been aware of the worth of collecting contemporary art, long before it had fully entered the spotlight of Turkeys art scene.

What started of as a collection focusing on Turkish artists, by the end of the 1990s the Elgiz family had begun to acquire some of the biggest names on the international contemporary art market. Knocking down walls of their own home to make space for their rapidly growing collection, the Elgiz Museum, it was clear to Sevda and Can that this was the art journey they were meant to be on.

Opening its doors in 2001, Istanbul’s private Elgiz Museum is regarded as one of the first institutions for contemporary art in Turkey, boasting international names such as Tracey Emin and Barbara Kruger as well as influential Turkish artists such as Ömer Uluç and Güngör Taner. In addition to their exhibition program, the Elgiz Museum continues to support the artists in the collection, as well as making entrance to the museum free of charge as a statement of “social responsibility”.

In their second Online Exhibition on Independent Collectors, the Elgiz Museum presents a selection of works from the private collection that merge together some of the most influential female artists with strong statements together such as Barbara Kruger’s “Fate”, Azade Köker’s “With Garter” and Jan Fabre’s jewelled dress to name a few.

Read an interview with Sevda Elgiz here.

The Elgiz Museum is included in the Art Guide.