ISTANBUL.- The leading auction house of Turkey, after selling an Osman Hamdi Bey’s “A Girl arranging Vase of Flowers” painting for a record price of 1.9 Million dollars recently, Antik A.S. announces the 276th auction of Modern and Contemporary Art in Istanbul which will take place on Sunday 24 March 2013. The sale will bring together and offer an important selection of works of art from the Turkish Art including impressive works of Erol Akyavas, Nejad Melih Devrim, Mübin Orhon, Fahrel Nisa Zeid, Burhan Doğançay, Ferruh Başağa, Mübin Orhon, Adnan Çoker, Abdurahman Öztoprak, Ömer Uluç, Kemal Önsoy, Mustafa Ata, Asım İşler, Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu.

The auction will take place at the Swıssotel Bosphorus and will present 200 exceptional modern&contemporary art. The leading highlight of the sale is Erol Akyavaş’s “KABE” a monumental canvas dated 1982. (268x260 cm.) The work has an estimation of 500,000 – 750,000 USD and is expected to generate tremendous excitement for the collectors and museums. Many art critics and museum curators describe the work as one of the icon paintings of the Turkish Art.

Antik A.Ş. will also offer for sale paintings by masters of Turkish Art.. One of the leading abstact artists Mubin Orhon’s monumental work “Red&Purple”, (120 x 207 cm ); another abstract by Nejad Melih Devirm dated 1955, a geometric composition work by Ferruh Başağa “Spanish Carnival” and works from the most wanted series like “Pigeons”. Another modern Turkish masterpiece which will be offered at auction is a 75x150 cm. From the “London” series, oil painting by the most famous Turkish female artist, Fahrel Nisa Zeid. 7 works by one of the most important Turkish artists, Burhan Doğançay. “Doors”and “Hearts&Bottoms” which were painted by Burhan Doğançay in 1986 has an estimation of 100,000 – 120,000 USD. Besides these lots, works by Modern Turkish art's most important representatives, Ömer Uluç, Mehmet Güleryüz, Alaettin Aksoy, Abdurrahman Öztoprak, Güngör Taner, Avni Arbaş, Orhan Peker, Neşe Erdok, Komet, Turan Erol, Ergin Inan, Kemal Onsoy, Mustafa Ata, Ansen, Azade Koker and Ahmet Elhan works will also be offered in the sale.

Olgac Artam, auctioneer of the sale, said “the sale is giving art buyers an opportunity to own extraordinary masterpieces that are museum qualtiy” By displaying the art works together, Artam predicts that these works will make a great impact on the market and he invites all those who appreciate quality art to view the display before the sale. Artam says “In 2009 Burhan Dogancay’s “Symphony in Blue” was sold for 1.260.000 Euro and the artist had become the most expensive living Turkish artist. In the same sale, Fahrel Nisa Zeid’s “London” work was also sold for an auction record. The 6 digit totals were very new to the market at that time. In March 2010 Erol Akyavas’s “The Siege” was sold for 1.2 million Euro which had become the world auction record for any contemporary Turkish work of art. Only until March 2012, where another Erol Akyavaş’s (1932-1999) work “I am the truth” sold for 1.25 million Euro and became the new record. İn the mean time Nejad Melih Devrim sold at Sotheby’s London for 1. million Euro and The reason that those paintings are very valuable is because in some way they are the masterpieces of the artists and unique many senses.. The date, period, quality and dimensions of these works are not comparable to any other works in the market. And the main Turkish collectors are after the best of the best, thus “KABE” is not only a collector’s dream it is every museum’s dream..”

The auction which will be held at the Swissotel The Bosphorus on March 24, 2012 is organized by Olgac Artam. Presenting a very important selection in the field of Modern and Contemporary Turkish Art, featuring works by artists who were great masters in their periods. A special catalogue has been prepared for the collection that will be on displayed at the Antik A.S., until 23rd of March. Many examples of the museum-quality artworks and masterpieces from 1950s to todays will be presented in the auction.

The works can be viewed at Antik A.S.