The idea for GALATA-HOUSE-OF-ART originated from a project by the German photographer Christa Frieda Vogel.

She came to Istanbul in 2008 to work on a portrait of the city. She soon felt that her perspective was too much that of an outsider. So she sought for a way to portray the city more from the inside – from the perspective of her citizens. Who would reflect the transition of a city better than its artists? Thus, the idea was born to be led by the artists themselves and attempt to capture the city through their eyes.

34 artists were portrayed in their studios and accompanied to their favourite places. The camera eye challenged the artists to view their city in a different, perhaps in a new light. The result was a photo book ARTISTANBUL - 34 CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS FROM ISTANBUL PRESENT THEIR FAVOURITE PLACES published in September 2011.

While working on the book she gained a privileged insight into the Istanbul art scene in which she found similar energies to the international Berlin art scene with which she is particularly familiar.

Thus the idea was born to facilitate the exchange of these energies in a kind of "Art-Embassy" where artists from these metropolises of art would find a platform to present their work and exchange ideas.

Since Beyoglu became her home and Galata Tower - of which there is a replica in Berlin - is one of her "favourite places", it seemed fitting to name this project GALATA-HOUSE-OF-ART.

The first exhibition in this project was an exhibition of the works of artists represented in ARTISTANBUL in September 2011 at Gallery Artium Modern in Beyoglu.