About
Biography
Turkish curator, writer, and poet, Elâ Atakan was born in 1986 in Istanbul. She graduated from Saint Joseph French High School in 2005 and earned her degree from Marmara University’s Faculty of Economics in 2009. She later completed a master’s degree in political science and art, focusing on the discourse of democratization, at Sciences Po Grenoble in France.
In 2010, Atakan collaborated with Sophie Calle for the launch of the exhibition For the First and the Last Time at Sabancı Museum in Istanbul. This exhibition, which traveled to renowned museums in cities such as Tokyo and Montreal, marked the beginning of Atakan’s career at the Sabancı Museum, where she worked as an exhibition manager for several years. During this time, she also worked on editing catalogues for exhibitions of internationally acclaimed artists, including Joan Miró and Anish Kapoor.
Atakan published her debut poetry book, Kimsesizliğin Sonu (The End of Solitude), in 2020. Currently pursuing a PhD on “Art and Collective Memory in Turkey” at Sciences Po Grenoble, she contributes articles to several art magazines, including Art Unlimited and Argonotlar.
In February 2019, she curated Ayça Telgeren‘s solo exhibition Under the Skin at GALERIST, and in February 2023, she curated the group exhibition A Momentary Absence, bringing together artists Sophie Calle, Ayça Telgeren, Burçak Bingöl, and Gül Ilgaz at GALERIST. In December 2022, she curated Golden Hour by Sabo Akdağ at Versus Art Project in Istanbul. In November 2023, she curated Stones from the Sea, a group exhibition with eight artists in collaboration with Dou Print Studio, presented at Ka in Ankara. This project was supported by EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture) members, including the Italian Embassy in Ankara, the Polish Embassy in Ankara, Institut Français Turquie in Ankara, and the Instituto Italiano di Cultura.
Languages
‣ Turkish — Native proficiency
‣ French — Full professional proficiency
‣ English — Full professional proficiency
‣ Greek — Intermediate proficiency
‣ Dutch — Beginner
Professional Appointments
Curatorial Practice and Selected Exhibitions
Independent Curator and Arts Manager | Freelance | 2011–Present
‣ “Stones from the Sea“, Dou Print Studio, Ankara, November 2023 Exhibition supported by EUNIC members and European cultural institutes; curated group show featuring Ahmet Doğu İpek, Alessandro Rizzi, Bartłomiej Chwliczyński, Cora Texier, Selim Birsel, Burcu Yağcıoğlu, Nermin Er. (Curator)
‣ “A Momentary Absence“, Galerist, Istanbul, February 2023 Collective exhibition featuring Sophie Calle, Ayça Telgeren, Burçak Bingöl, and Gül Ilgaz. (Curator)
‣ “Golden Hour” by Sabo Akdağ, Versus Art Project, Istanbul, December 2022 (Curator)
‣ “Under the Skin” by Ayça Telgeren, Galerist, Istanbul, February 2019 (Curator)
‣ “For the Last and First Time” by Sophie Calle, Sakıp Sabancı Museum, Istanbul, 2011 Exhibition toured internationally (Tokyo, Montréal, and other venues) (Art Coordination)
‣ Artistic programming connecting sound, visual arts, and site-specific practices for Pur Cunda Recordings, Cunda Island, Turkey | 2024–Present
Exhibition and Projects Manager | Sakıp Sabancı Museum, Istanbul, Turkey | March 2013 – March 2015
‣ Coordinated 10+ international exhibitions featuring artists such as Joan Miró and Anish Kapoor
‣ Organized exhibition logistics, coordinated educational side programs
‣ Prepared exhibition catalogues
‣ Oversaw collaborations between artists, curators, and the museum team for major international exhibitions
Production & Program Manager | Zeyno Film, Istanbul, Turkey 2015–2018
‣ Received hands-on production training at Zeyno Film, led by Zeynep Atakan at the Cannes award-winning production company known for collaborations with directors such as Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Kutluğ Ataman, Elia Suleiman, and Tayfun Pirselimoğlu.
‣ Assisted in various aspects of film production
‣ Coordinated the program and edited the official catalogue for the Antalya Film Forum, organized by Zeyno Film as part of the Antalya International Film Festival
‣ Managed industry communications and supported the development of the forum’s content and structure
Program and Project Manager | Turkey | 2014–2018
‣ Directed exhibition programs for the artist collective YER (2015–2016), managing artistic collaborations, production planning, and public events
‣ Catalogue editor at Ankara Women Film Festival, 2018-2020
Publications and Writings
‣ “Kimsesizliğin Sonu” (The End of Solitude) — Poetry and short stories, published in 2020, Istanbul
‣ Articles and critical essays published in Art Unlimited, Artnews Paper, and Argonotlar (2017– Present), Istanbul
Education and Academic Appointments
Ph.D. in Political Science
Sciences Po Grenoble, Grenoble, France | 2011–
‣ Dissertation Title: “Art and Collective Memory in Turkey”
‣ Research focuses on the role of contemporary art practices in the construction of political memory
Master’s Degree in Political Science
Sciences Po Grenoble, France | 2009–2010
‣ Dual-degree program in Political Science with Galatasaray University.
‣ Thesis: “The Discourse of Democratization in Turkey”
Erasmus Exchange Program in Economy and Social Administration
‣ Université Panthéon-Sorbonne Paris 1, Paris, France | 2006–2007
Bachelor’s Degree in Labor Economics and Industrial Relations
‣ Marmara Üniversitesi, Istanbul, Turkey | 2005–2010
High School Diploma
‣ Saint Joseph French High School, Istanbul, Turkey | 2002–2005