We’ve Been at the Tapestry Studio Since the 90s
This exhibition at Salt explores the Tapestry Studio’s approach to art education and production.
The production and discussion of contemporary art gained momentum in Turkey during the 1990s, establishing links with social and political movements. Its place within academic curricula, however, remained limited. Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University (MSGSÜ), which sought to uphold its long-standing traditions, at first remained distant from the diverse practices flourishing throughout the country, particularly in Istanbul. Yet dissenting voices gradually began to be heard, albeit few and far between.
Affiliated with MSGSÜ’s Department of Painting, the Tapestry Studio has carved out a unique position both within and outside the institution. Combining carpet weaving education with contemporary art, the studio embraced a pedagogical approach rooted in “learning together” as it gathered students, artists, guests, and cultural workers around the same table.
The Tapestry Studio was established in 1976–77 under the direction of painter and academic Zekai Ormancı (1949–2008). Described as the “laid-back studio,” it was even taken lightly due to the traditional connotations of its name. However, this relaxed environment would eventually yield unexpected outcomes.
In 1992, visual artist and academic Gülçin Aksoy (1965–2024) became an assistant at the Tapestry Studio. Together with a group of students and colleagues, she sparked a dynamism that gradually transformed the space. This synergy spilled out of the studio door — which Aksoy kept open both physically and conceptually — first into the university corridors, and then into Istanbul’s contemporary art scene. The studio’s production model then multiplied, diversified, and expanded through the relationships it forged with independent art initiatives, feminist circles, and interdisciplinary collectives in Istanbul during the 2000s.
On view through March 1, 2026, We’ve Been at the Tapestry Studio Since the 90s focuses on this studio’s approach to art education and how it draws strength from being flexible, open, and inclusive in a manner not often witnessed in academia. The exhibition at Salt Beyoğlu in Istanbul explores the studio’s relationship to everyday life while highlighting the potential of creative dissent and collective production. Tracing the meticulous physical and conceptual connections built since the Tapestry Studio’s founding, the show presents a collage of collaborative and individual works, archival materials, and testimonies from artists who crossed paths with this space.
For more information, visit saltonline.org.
