The official launch of the Turkish Art Platform (TAP) took place in London on 10 February 2026 at Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London, marking a significant new chapter in supporting Turkish artistic production in the United Kingdom. Developed as a long-term cultural initiative, TAP adopts a “preservation through expansion” approach, building upon established community structures while strengthening connections between Turkish artists in the UK and wider international artistic networks.
The launch was held during the opening of the 8th Turkish Community Art Exhibition (TCAE), organised by Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London in collaboration with the Turkish Consulate General in London. The private opening ceremony, held at the Institute’s gallery, brought together artists, cultural professionals, and members of the Turkish community. As part of the Turkish Art Platform programme, the evening also featured a short recital by London-based musician Ozan Baysal, who performed selected pieces from his newly released album Tel ve Ten. The intimate performance added a musical dimension to the launch, highlighting the interdisciplinary scope of the Platform and its commitment to supporting diverse forms of Turkish artistic production in the UK.
Launched in 2019, the Turkish Community Art Exhibition has grown into a well-established annual platform, presenting more than 600 original artworks by over 300 artists to date. The exhibition consistently highlights the artistic diversity, creative production, and cultural presence of the Turkish community in the United Kingdom, bringing together artists from different backgrounds, generations, and stages of practice.
The 8th edition continues this tradition by showcasing works by amateur, emerging, and professional Turkish artists across a broad range of disciplines, including painting, photography, mixed media, and digital art. Reflecting both individual artistic voices and the collective creative energy of the community, this year’s open call attracted 128 artworks from 66 artists. Following a careful evaluation process focused on originality, creativity, technique, and artistic expression, 71 works by 55 artists were selected for exhibition.
All works on display were selected by a distinguished jury comprising the Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in London, Ambassador Assoc. Prof. Dr Hasan Ulusoy; the Director of Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London, Dr Mehmet Karakuş; and respected Turkish artists based in the United Kingdom: Sümer Erek, Ali Haydar Yeşilyurt, and Dilara Karaağaç. In addition to the physical exhibition in London, all selected works are also presented to international audiences through an online exhibition catalogue, extending the exhibition’s reach beyond its physical setting.
The selected artists for this year’s exhibition include Abdullah Yusuf, Adam Turk, Alisher İlkhamov, Aslı Shehi, Aylya Ahmedova, Ayşe Akay, Banu Bal, Banu Rezzan Phillips, Barış Uçar, Begüm Malkoçlar, Berrin Kapusuz, Betül Aydın, Bülent Coşkun, Burçak Kafadar, Candan Olcay, Ceyda Konuralp, Demet Tokbay, Elmas Büyükmumcu, Emel Sevinç, Emre Gökyiğit, Esma Ceylan, Fatma Karaer, Ferhat Koyun, Funda Ayhan, Gültekin Uzuner, Gülüstan Arslan, Hatice Önder Kalaycı, Hilal Argun, Ilkay King, Kübra Topal, Memed Türkmen, Meral Şahin, Mine Bayar, Muhsin Adalı, Naile Perolli, Nermin Güney Tarakçı, Nevena Akyol, Nilgün Baklacı, Nurcan Erkoçak Yasin, Nurdan Kocasoy, Onur Orkut, Orkun Türkbeyler, Özlem Thompson, Recep Yıldırım, Refie Nuredin Rufi, Salime Aslan, Sevim Çakır, Shakib Rahman, Sümeyra Ocak Ahmed, Tanjila Jahan, Tanya Harrison, Terry Katalan, Tuğçe Thompson, Zahra Bachoo, and Zeynep Doğan.
The 8th Turkish Community Art Exhibition is open to the public from 11 February to 10 March 2026, daily between 10:00 and 18:00, at Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London, located in the heart of Fitzrovia, London.
