ARKOBJECT showcases Istanbul’s craft culture through collectible design
Founded by designer Sami Savatli in Maçka, Istanbul, ARKOBJECT is a contemporary collectible design and art gallery dedicated to the relationship between creative practice and local craftsmanship. Bringing together established designers, emerging artists and specialist artisans, the gallery presents furniture, lighting, sculptural objects and artworks that reflect Istanbul’s longstanding culture of making. Its curatorial approach places equal importance on artistic expression and production, introducing contemporary works developed through the knowledge, techniques and creative exchanges that continue to define the city’s workshops and design community.
The gallery’s collection spans one-of-a-kind objects, limited-edition furniture, bespoke pieces and functional artworks, selected for their distinctive forms, materials and craftsmanship. Tables, chairs, cabinets and mirrors appear alongside sculptures and wall-mounted works, creating a dialogue between practical function and artistic interpretation. Across the selection, attention to proportion, surface and construction gives individual objects their own identity. ARKOBJECT approaches collectible design through the relationship between an idea and its physical execution, considering how materials and techniques contribute to the character and lasting relevance of each piece.
Istanbul’s artisan workshops play an essential role in the gallery’s creative direction. Designers collaborate with specialist makers to develop objects through material experimentation, technical knowledge and traditional production methods. These exchanges allow familiar processes to accommodate contemporary forms, while new concepts introduce different possibilities for established techniques. The relationship between designer and artisan extends throughout development, from initial ideas to decisions about structure, finish and fabrication. By bringing these practices into an international context, ARKOBJECT supports the visibility of local craftsmanship within the wider collectible design market.
Among the gallery’s represented creatives is Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu, internationally recognised for becoming the first woman to design the interior of a mosque, whose Gloss side table reflects her attention to colour, texture and craftsmanship. Tayfun Mumcu draws references from different historical periods in his furniture and objects, while Betül Özkan investigates memory and the human body through wool, thread and sculptural surfaces. Animate Objects, founded by Zeynep Satık, introduces references from theatre, performance and art history into handcrafted furniture produced in collaboration with local artisans.
The wider selection includes works by Marāu, Ayşe Demir, Sevgi Karay, Emel Güneş, Mesut Öztürk, Işıl Kapu, Maral Taşkırıcı, Dilek Fidan, Begüm Alkan and Sami Savatli. Their practices encompass different scales and disciplines, from sculptural lighting and expressive furniture to textile artworks and decorative objects. The gallery brings these individual approaches into conversation without imposing a single visual language. Differences in material, construction and artistic intention become essential to the experience, allowing visitors and collectors to encounter multiple perspectives on contemporary Turkish design.
Beyond its curatorial programme, ARKOBJECT Editions develops exclusive works through collaborations between artists, designers and Istanbul-based artisans. The initiative supports original limited editions, with participants working together on form, scale, material selection and production techniques from the earliest stages. Some collaborations extend existing practices, while others generate entirely new objects through shared experimentation. Through its gallery and editions programme, ARKOBJECT positions Istanbul’s creative community within the international collectible design landscape, connecting the city’s workshop expertise with contemporary artistic production and an expanding audience of collectors.
Photo Credit: Sinan Çırak, courtesy of ARKOBJECT
