Feelings in Common – British Council Art Collection in Türkiye
A wide selection from the British Council Collection is coming to İstanbul with a landmark exhibition at Pera Museum.
The British Council Collection is one of the UK’s most important national art collections. Starting in 1938, it has grown to include almost 9,000 artworks by more than 1,700 artists—from painting and sculpture to photography and new media. Often called a “museum without walls”, the Collection travels the world, but it is rarely shown at this scale.
Now, audiences in Türkiye will have the chance to see artworks by some of the most influential names in modern and contemporary art, including Delaine Le Bas, Sonia Boyce, Tracey Emin, Lucian Freud, Lubaina Himid, Damien Hirst, David Hockney, and Sarah Lucas. The exhibition is curated by Ulya Soley and is structured around three chapters titled ‘Preserving Care’, ‘Familiar Faces’, and ‘Future Perfect’, These works reflect over eight decades of creativity and tell a powerful story of British art across generations. Parallel events will accompany the exhibition, further enriching the visitor experience.
The exhibition, titled Feelings in Common, is more than just a showcase of masterpieces. It’s an invitation to explore how art connects us, how it helps us feel, imagine, and share experiences across different cultures. By bringing a wide span of the Collection to Türkiye for the first time, the British Council continues its mission of building connections and creating dialogue through the arts.
Pera Museum, İstanbul
6 September 2025 – 18 January 2026
Artists: Larry Achiampong, Laura Aldridge, Ed Atkins, Sonia Boyce, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Eileen Cooper, Tony Cragg, Tracey Emin, Jane England, Cerith Wyn Evans, Graham Fagen, Lucian Freud, Anya Gallacio, Gilbert and George, Richard Hamilton, Lubaina Himid, Damien Hirst, David Hockney, Michael Landy, Delaine Le Bas, Sarah Lucas, Kate Malone, Chris Ofili, Marc Quinn, Raqib Shaw, Wolfgang Tillmans, Suzanne Treister, Bedwyr Williams, Madame Yevonde.