Christine Tohmé to Curate the 18th Istanbul Biennial

About Christine Tohmé

Christine Tohmé’s work in the arts spans over three decades and focuses on fostering cultural production, arts education, and community engagement. In 1993, she founded Ashkal Alwan, a Beirut-based non-profit organization dedicated to supporting contemporary art practices. Among its many initiatives, Ashkal Alwan offers the Home Workspace Program, a free study program launched in 2011 that continues to serve as a vital educational resource for artists. Additionally, Tohmé developed online platforms like Perpetual Postponement and aashra, further expanding her impact on the cultural landscape.

Tohmé’s curatorial achievements include conceiving Home Works: A Forum on Cultural Practices, a multidisciplinary platform in Beirut that has been active since 2002. She also curated Sharjah Biennial 13: Tamawuj (2017–2018), a project that took place across multiple cities, emphasizing her commitment to cross-cultural exchange. Her contributions have been recognized with several awards, including the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture (2018), the CCS Bard Audrey Irmas Award for Curatorial Excellence (2015), and the Prince Claus Award (2006).

Tohmé also serves on the boards of the International Biennial Association and Haven for Artists, a feminist cultural organization in Beirut, where she lives and works.

Overview of the 18th Istanbul Biennial

The Istanbul Biennial, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), has long been a platform for exploring critical issues through contemporary art. Koç Holding, the Biennial’s primary sponsor from 2007 to 2036, supports this edition along with international partners and funding organizations. The Biennial Advisory Board, guiding the event’s framework, includes notable figures such as Ahu Antmen (academic and critic), Lydia Gatundu Galavu (curator), Gözde İlkin (artist), Renan Laru-an (curator and art director), and Sally Tallant (curator and museum director).

The 18th Istanbul Biennial will run from September 20 to November 23, 2025. Media previews are scheduled for September 16–19, with professional previews on September 18–19.

For further details on the advisory board’s role and curator appointment process, please refer to the Istanbul Biennial’s official guidelines.

With Tohmé at the helm, the 18th Istanbul Biennial promises to engage audiences in dialogue around contemporary issues and celebrate the diverse voices shaping today’s art world.