Pera Museum

The Pera Museum was opened in 2005 by the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation in the Tepebaşı district of Istanbul. The historic building, originally constructed in 1893 by architect Achille Manoussos as the Bristol Hotel, was transformed into a modern museum through the restoration led by Mimar Sinan Genim and presented to art lovers under the banner of the Pera Museum.

Since its founding, the Pera Museum has become one of Turkey’s leading cultural institutions not only through its permanent collections but also through international artistic collaborations, exhibitions, educational programs, and publishing activities.

Pera Museum (Pera Museum)

Pera Museum’s Collections and Cultural Heritage

The Pera Museum is distinguished by its collections owned by the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation: “Orientalist Painting,” “Anatolian Weights and Measures,” and “Kütahya Tiles and Ceramics.” These collections represent a rich cultural memory through works produced by Ottoman and European artists between the 17th and 20th centuries. In particular, Osman Hamdi Bey’s iconic work “The Turtle Trainer” is among the museum’s most celebrated pieces. The Anatolian Weights and Measures Collection documents an extensive historical range with approximately 10,000 objects worldwide.

Pera Museum (Vehbi Koç Foundation Encyclopedia)

International Museum Day 2025 Events

The 2025 International Museum Day, marking the museum’s 20th anniversary, was celebrated by the Pera Museum through a comprehensive program. The events held on May 16–17 revealed diverse facets of art through an interdisciplinary approach.

May 16, 2025

The guided tour titled “A Journey Through the Pera Museum Collections” introduced visitors to the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation’s holdings. That same evening, the screening “Short Film Selection – 1” brought together a work by Belgian avant-garde director Charles Dekeukeleire with a live performance by musician Ekin Fil.

May 17, 2025

Early in the day, the concert “Grand Set Resifi” offered the audience a musical journey through Ludus Ensemble’s contemporary and classical repertoire. Later in the evening, the event “Long Night, Long Music” created an evocative atmosphere at Pera Café, where the electronic music duo WhaleRoom and DJ SoulStamp merged art and music. During this event, the museum’s exhibitions were freely accessible from 19:00 to 00:00.

Current Exhibitions and Publications

As part of the Pera Museum’s 2025 program, exhibitions featuring representatives of contemporary art have engaged audiences. Marcel Dzama’s exhibition “Dancing with Moonlight” was supported by publications contributed by Alistair Hicks, Ulya Soley, and Ezgi Bakçay. Another current exhibition, “SAMİH RİFAT: There Is Much Work to Be Done,” presents a multidimensional perspective through the artist’s photographs, poems, and translations. The exhibition “Calculations and Accidents” highlights Vera Molnár’s practice rooted in algorithmic art, raising significant questions about the nature of art in the digital age.