Istanbul Biennial is one of the most influential contemporary art biennials globally, providing an open platform for artists and audiences to explore urgent questions through innovative curatorial approaches. Founded in 1987 and organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), the Biennial is a key moment in the global art calendar, bringing together artists, curators, and thinkers from around the world to engage with Istanbul’s multilayered urban and cultural fabric. Each edition of the Istanbul Biennial is curated around a distinctive theme that resonates with both local realities and international discourses. The 18th edition, The Three-Legged Cat, references the city’s liminal, resourceful spirit, drawing on the metaphor of the street cat—agile and ever-adaptive—to reflect on survival, resilience, and unseen narratives within urban life.
