Our artistic journey is not limited to the present; it is a continuation of a line that extends from the first great masters of the Republican era to us. This line begins with Avni Çelebi's unique perspective; it gains a new interpretation with his student Ünsal Toker and is carried forward to different periods and different moods with his students.
We are the followers of this silent yet powerful legacy.
The founder of our gallery is Ali Naki Ilhan, a student of Ünsal Toker. His artistic approach combines academic discipline with the sincere bond of the master-apprentice relationship. His devotion to paint texture, light, and composition is a reflection of the work and vision of his teachers who came before him.
This gallery is not merely a space for exhibiting artworks; it is a place where an artistic language passed down through generations comes to life.
Each canvas exhibited here is a bridge between the past and the present.
Every brushstroke is part of a story that carries continuity from the Republic's understanding of art to today's interpretation.
We base our identity on "preserving the legacy of the great masters."
Walking in the footsteps of the important names in Turkish painting is not a source of pride for us; it is a sense of responsibility.
Therefore, the purpose of our gallery is not only to EXHIBIT works of art; it is to understand them, explain them, and carry them into the future.
It is our goal to bring together this journey, the subtlety of the master-apprentice tradition, the liberating artistic spirit of the Republic and today's innovative perspective.
AI Avni Çelebi
Born in Istanbul on March 1, 1904, Ali Avni Çelebi was the son of Suphi Bey, one of the cultured figures of the period, who had retired from his post as Baghdad Postmaster. He began his painting education in 1918 at the Sanâyi-i Nefîse School with the support of his father. He completed his basic art education by spending the first two years in Hikmet Onat's studio and the next two years in İbrahim Çallı's studio.
In 1922, he went to Munich to further his education; he first worked in Heinemann's studio and then attended the Munich Academy of Fine Arts for a semester. In 1923, he studied in the studio of Arthur Kampf at the Akademie der Künste in Berlin. In the same year, he returned to Munich and continued his education in Hans Hofmann's studio until he came to Turkey in 1927.
When she returned to Turkey in 1927 , she participated in the Galatasaray Exhibition and the Fine Arts Union's exhibition in Ankara. Afterwards, she worked as an art teacher at Konya Girls' Teacher Training School. In 1929, he was among the founders of the Independent Union of Painters and Sculptors. A year later, he went back to Munich and continued his studies under Hofmann; however, he returned to Istanbul due to his teacher's preparations to relocate to America before the war.
In 1931, he started working as an assistant teacher at the Academy, but was dismissed the same year. In 1934, he worked as a designer at the Archaeology Department of Istanbul University. After Léopold Lévy became the head of the New Painting Department, he was re-admitted to the Academy as an assistant in 1938. In 1956 , at the age of 52, he established his own independent studio and continued to work at the Academy until his retirement in 1968.
Ali Avni Çelebi received various awards throughout his career; he was awarded first prize at the 6th State Painting and Sculpture Exhibition in 1944and at the Tehran Art Biennial in 1966.
Unsal Toker
He was born in 1933 in Kırklareli. In 1958, he graduated from the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts (IDGSA) Higher Painting Department. He studied at the Ali Avni Çelebi Workshop. Toker stood out as an expressionist painter.
His characteristic style is characterized by energetic brushstrokes and the use of full-bodied paint.
The influence of his workshop teacher Ali Avni Çelebi is clearly visible in his works; especially in his color and composition choices, the relationship of heritage is felt.
The theme of the sea occupies a very important place in Toker's art. Subjects such as the sea, ships and the Bosphorus view frequently appear in his paintings.
The symbolic structures of Istanbul are also indispensable motifs in his works: especially symbols such as the Galata Tower and Haydarpaşa frequently appear in his paintings.
Other intriguing themes include roosters and flowers; Toker was particularly strong on the rooster motif.
He has opened more than 85 exhibitions throughout his artistic life.
Awards include:
1961 Izmir Fine Arts Festival - Second Prize
1969 DYO Competition - Fifth Prize
1972 DYO Competition - 2nd Special Jury Award
1972 Izmir Artists Association - First Prize
1975 36th State Painting Exhibition – Achievement Award
Ünsal Toker is a powerful figure in Turkish painting of the Republican era. His works serve as an important bridge in bringing Istanbul's cityscape, the Bosphorus, the sea, and its symbolic structures into art. He continued the painting tradition that began with his studio teacher Ali Avni Çelebi with his own unique interpretation and inspired subsequent generations. His energetic and expressive technique holds a special place, particularly in modern and contemporary Turkish painting history.
Ali Naki Ilhan
Born in 1956 in Kayseri, he graduated from Istanbul Atatürk Faculty of Education, Department of Painting. Then I completed my undergraduate education at Marmara University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Painting and strengthened my academic and artistic infrastructure. Throughout my art education, she focused on both traditional and contemporary painting techniques; she developed a personal style especially in acrylic and oil painting disciplines.
She worked as a painting teacher in Istanbul and Datça for nearly 30 years. During his teaching years, he not only provided technical education but also developed projects that supported his students to connect with cultural heritage through art. He took an active role in many Social Responsibility projects by caring about the aspect of art integrating with society. While working in Datça, she organized a widely participated event called "1 Km Painting" with her students, emphasizing both the unifying power of art and the importance of creative production in the public sphere.
He has held nearly 40 solo exhibitions in different cities across Turkey and participated in numerous group exhibitions in cities such as Istanbul, Denizli, Kütahya and Bozüyük. In these exhibitions, she mostly presented her oil and acrylic works focusing on nature, traditional life, cultural values and the human figure. He worked as a painting teacher at Büyükada Volunteer House for a period and gave art education to both adults and young people.
In 1980, he continued his painting works at Ünsal Toker Workshop.
He is currently the Art Consultant of the BLUE PORT group. He has works in various collections in Turkey and abroad; (England, Colombia, Germany, Azerbaijan). In his works in these collections, he mostly dealt with Turkey's cultural richness, architectural heritage and natural elements with a modern interpretation.
She continues her work in her studio in Ortaköy and continues to produce works that contribute to both individual and social memory.