Uluslararası Plastik Sanatlar Derneği

Uluslararası Plastik Sanatlar Derneği (UPSD) serves as the official Turkish National Committee of the International Association of Art (AIAP/IAA), an official partner of UNESCO. Headquartered in Istanbul Province, this professional arts institution represents artists practicing across diverse disciplines in the plastic arts, working to broaden the visibility of Turkish art across national and global cultural platforms. The association plays an essential institutional role by safeguarding artist rights, staging curated exhibitions, organizing public design competitions, and providing structured provenance documentation for creators throughout Turkey.

The institutional leadership of the association holds a distinguished record in international cultural policy. Turkish painter Bedri Baykam served as the president of UPSD for eighteen years while also holding the world presidency of AIAP/IAA, during which he spearheaded the successful initiative to establish World Art Day as an official UNESCO international day in November 2019. Following the 16th Ordinary General Assembly convened on December 15, 2024, Bedri Baykam was designated as Honorary President, and Denizhan Özer was unanimously elected as the new Board President. Alongside Özer, the administrative board includes Vice President Murat Havan, Secretary General Nebahat Karyağdı Dülger, Treasurer Melik İskender, and Gallery Coordinator Suat Arıkan, supported by board members Hülya Küpçüoğlu and Mehmet Özenbaş. With a historic organizational reach that includes previous branch activity in Ankara under Cezmi Orhan, UPSD continues to provide professional advocacy, gallery space, and exhibition backing for both emerging and established visual artists.

Programme and What's On

The operational calendar at Uluslararası Plastik Sanatlar Derneği combines gallery showcases, civic design competitions, professional administrative summits, and artist protection initiatives. Rather than operating purely as a commercial showroom, the association functions as an active platform where contemporary visual projects intersect with institutional advocacy.

A core element of the exhibition calendar focuses on emerging talents and academic practitioners. The ongoing exhibition lineup features signature showcases such as Genç Etkinlik 9, a curated platform designed specifically to highlight promising younger generations of visual creators, and Akademix III Sergisi, which brings academic artists and contemporary practitioners together under a unified thematic program. These exhibitions allow viewers to observe contemporary techniques in painting, sculpture, and mixed media while providing direct institutional backing to artists seeking broader gallery visibility.

In addition to gallery displays, UPSD organizes wide-reaching civic competitions and professional assemblies. A notable initiative is the İstanbul Senin, Yeşil Alanlarda Sanat Yapıtları Tasarımı Yarışması, a design competition inviting artists to create public artworks for urban green spaces, honoring historical figures and cultural memories that shaped Istanbul during the first half of the twentieth century. On an international scale, the organization hosted the AIAP/IAA 19th Extraordinary General Assembly at the historic Metro Han with the support of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), welcoming 60 international delegates representing 25 countries for bilateral talks and collaborative cultural presentations.

For professional practitioners, one of the most critical structural offerings developed by the association is the EPİVERON Belgesi (Epiveron Certificate). This document functions as an institutional artwork tracking framework that helps artists register their pieces, monitor market circulation, and protect their intellectual property against unregulated commercial speculation. By integrating rigorous provenance control with competitive public installations and international summits, the association maintains a structured agenda that serves both creative development and the legal realities of artistic practice.

Atmosphere and Who It Suits

The environment within Uluslararası Plastik Sanatlar Derneği reflects its dual function as both a working professional headquarters and an accessible cultural gallery. Unlike private commercial galleries that prioritize rapid retail transactions, this venue cultivates a collegiate, institutional atmosphere anchored in collective advocacy, artistic solidarity, and cross-border cooperation. The space is arranged to accommodate formal exhibition viewing alongside high-level administrative functions overseen by officers such as Gallery Coordinator Suat Arıkan and Audit Board figures like Bünyamin Özgültekin and Ekber Yeşilyurt.

The space is specifically tailored for several distinct groups within the cultural ecosystem:

• Practicing Plastic Artists: Painters, sculptors, and multimedia creators seeking institutional representation, professional guidance, and administrative solidarity through international affiliations.
• Emerging and Student Artists: Young creatives looking for exhibition venues, project funding opportunities, and dedicated programs like Genç Etkinlik that bridge academic training and professional practice.
• Art Lovers and Researchers: Visitors interested in exploring non-commercial, curated exhibitions, understanding public art movements, and following UNESCO-backed international initiatives.
• Cultural Advocates and Professionals: Curators, collectors, and sector specialists tracking market transparency mechanisms like the EPİVERON documentation system.

Visitors engaging with the venue experience a focused, intellectual setting where the discussions revolve around artist rights, exhibition standards, and the projection of Turkish plastic arts across global platforms. The presence of international committee mandates and historical archives gives the galleries a grounded, purposeful character. It is an ideal setting for quiet cultural study, viewing curated collective works away from retail crowds, or discovering the institutional frameworks that support contemporary Turkish art.

Location and Practical Details

Planning a visit to Uluslararası Plastik Sanatlar Derneği requires attention to its physical setting and weekday operational schedule. The main venue is situated in the Harbiye neighborhood of the Şişli district in Istanbul Province, specifically housed within the Artist Studios complex (Sanatçı İşlikleri) nestled inside Maçka Demokrasi Parkı. The premises sit directly adjacent to the Şişli Evlendirme Dairesi (Şişli Marriage Bureau) along Kadırgalar Caddesi No: 7 (postal code 34367).

In addition to its primary base in Maçka Park, the association collaborates with public institutions to host major international assemblies at historic metropolitan landmarks, such as the municipal Metro Han building in Istanbul. Historically, the association has also maintained regional organizational reach across Turkey, including branch activity in Ankara formerly led by Cezmi Orhan.

Practical visiting information and schedule:

• Operating Hours: Open Monday through Friday from 13:00 to 17:00. The gallery and administrative offices remain closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and official public holidays.
• Physical Address: Maçka Demokrasi Parkı Sanatçı İşlikleri, adjacent to Şişli Evlendirme Dairesi, Harbiye, Kadırgalar Cd. No:7, 34367 Şişli, Istanbul Province.
• Telephone Contact: Primary landline: (0212) 247 62 83; Mobile inquiries: 0533 162 70 05.
• Facsimile & Digital: Fax: (0212) 247 36 85; Official Email: [email protected].
• Official Website: upsd.org.tr

Because the venue operates within a dedicated four-hour afternoon window on weekdays, prospective visitors, researchers, and artists intending to consult with board members or view current gallery installations should plan their schedule accordingly. For specific administrative procedures—such as applying for an EPİVERON document or submitting project portfolios—direct advance communication via telephone or email is recommended.

The Mio Angle: Meeting and Events

On Mio Social, where community recommendations prioritize authentic, purposeful destinations, Uluslararası Plastik Sanatlar Derneği stands out as a unique institutional alternative to mainstream private art galleries. Positioned amid the quiet greenery of Maçka Demokrasi Parkı in Harbiye, this location offers a calm, contemplative meeting point for anyone looking to step away from busy urban commercial hubs and engage directly with the foundational structures of Turkish visual art.

As a gathering spot, UPSD appeals strongly to culture-focused duos, independent researchers, and creative peers who appreciate substantive art discussions. Visiting the artist studio complex allows community members to experience curated exhibitions like Genç Etkinlik or Akademix III in an unhurried, focused environment. The venue is especially relevant for emerging artists looking to learn about copyright mechanisms, provenance tracking via the EPİVERON framework, and pathways to national design competitions organized with municipal partners.

From a budget perspective, visiting the association's public showcases provides an accessible cultural experience. Because UPSD is a professional non-profit association rather than a retail gallery or ticketed commercial museum, its public exhibitions and educational activities offer open access for art lovers, students, and practitioners looking for cultural enrichment without prohibitive admission fees.

For content creators and cultural storytellers, the visual appeal lies in its authentic studio architecture surrounded by the natural backdrop of Maçka Demokrasi Parkı, as well as the historic weight of its UNESCO AIAP/IAA credentials. Rather than staging polished commercial photo opportunities, sharing a visit to UPSD highlights the birthplace of initiatives like World Art Day and celebrates the ongoing advocacy that sustains Turkey's plastic arts community.