Istanbul’s Pera Museum to Host Philosophical Tour of Frank Bowling Exhibition on November 18

British artist’s first exhibition in Turkey runs until January 31, 2027, featuring his works alongside paintings by Francis Bacon and Victor Willing.

Pera Museum, located in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district, will host a special philosophical tour of British artist Frank Bowling’s exhibition, Creation and Destruction, on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.

Led by philosopher and researcher Dilek H. Zadegan, the tour will explore the connections between the artworks and themes of identity, colonialism, modernity and the philosophy of art.

The exhibition, which opened on September 29 and runs until January 31, 2027, marks the first presentation of Bowling’s work in Istanbul. It brings together pieces spanning more than six decades of his artistic career, alongside paintings by British artists Francis Bacon and Victor Willing.

Curated by Alistair Hicks, the exhibition presents a selection of Bowling’s historical and recent works, including paintings from his celebrated Map Paintings series, created between 1967 and 1971.

It also features Mother’s House Revisited (2026), in which the artist revisits memories of his childhood home in Guyana.

Bowling is renowned for his innovative use of colour, layered surfaces and unconventional materials, reflecting his exploration of memory, abstraction and transformation.

Selected paintings by Francis Bacon and Victor Willing are displayed alongside his works, offering visitors insight into the artistic and intellectual relationships that influenced his creative development.

The special tour will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately one hour.

It will be led by Dilek H. Zadegan, a philosophy researcher and professor of gender-related studies at Emory University in the United States.

The tour will examine concepts of modernity, identity, colonialism and colour, drawing on a study by Zadegan published in the exhibition catalogue.

Conducted in Turkish, the tour costs TRY 450, with a limited number of places available. Tickets can be purchased through Biletix or at the museum reception, subject to availability.

The exhibition offers visitors to Istanbul an opportunity to explore the city’s contemporary cultural scene beyond the historical landmarks and bustling markets that typically dominate tourist itineraries.

A visit to Pera Museum can be combined with a walk through Beyoğlu, İstiklal Avenue and the surrounding galleries, cafés and cultural attractions.

However, Arab travellers should note that the special philosophical tour on November 18 will be conducted in Turkish. Visiting the exhibition independently remains an alternative during the museum’s regular opening hours.

With the exhibition continuing until January 2027, it also provides an opportunity to diversify winter travel itineraries in Istanbul through cultural experiences.

While major exhibitions can contribute to a destination’s cultural appeal, any specific economic impact on nearby hotels and restaurants would require supporting visitor and spending data