Miart Gallery London has officially inaugurated two new venues in Istanbul with the largest exhibition to date of Lorenzo Quinn. The globally acclaimed sculptor– best known for his epic sculpture displayed on the Canale Grande during la Biennale Venezia in 2021–is exhibiting 80 artworks–including sculptures and paintings–across two new Miart Gallery exhibition spaces in Istanbul.
Lorenzo Quinn: The New Age of Bronze opened at Miart Gallery Istanbul on 5th May and runs until 30th July 2025.
Acclaimed as one of the most dynamic cultural institutions in Europe, Miart Gallery London has embarked on a strategic international expansion with the landmark Lorenzo Quinn. The artist, whose work has been installed in public spaces from Venice to Doha, brings together 80sculptures for this highly anticipated exhibition—his first of this scale in Turkey. The exhibition officially opened to the public on 5th May 2025 in two locations–Miart Gallery Istanbul, located at Four Seasons Residences, Etiler, and Miart Gallery Bosphorus, inside the iconic Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus.
Lorenzo Quinn’s work appears in many private collections throughout the world and has been exhibited internationally throughout the past two decades. Among his commissions is the ‘Tree of Life’, produced for the United Nations and issued by the organisation as a stamp in 1993. The following year the Vatican engaged him to sculpt a likeness of St Anthony for the Basilica del Santo in Padua, in commemoration of the 800th anniversary of the saint’s birth; the sculpture was blessed by the pope in St Peter’s Square, Rome, in front of a crowd of 35,000.
Quinn received worldwide critical acclaim in 2019 for his sculpture Building Bridges at the 58th Venice Biennale. Building Bridgeswas a striking symbol of unity and connection featuring six pairs of colossal hands, each representing key virtues essential for global harmony: Friendship, Faith, Help, Love, Hope, and Wisdom. These hands, crafted with Quinn’s signature attention to the human form, reached out in a powerful visual statement about the potential for collaboration and understanding across cultures. The installation not only engaged with Venice’s legacy but also reinforced Quinn’s belief in the transformative power of human connection to bridge divides and build a more unified world. Sculptures featuring Quinn’s recurring symbol of hands connecting as a metaphor for collaboration and cultural exchange, can be found in the exhibition at Miart Gallery Istanbul and the gallery is in advanced discussions with Quinn about bringing the monumental “Building Bridges” sculpture to Istanbul.
Lorenzo Quinn expressed: “Istanbul has so many beautiful locations suitable for public art. Dolmabahçe Palace and the Atatürk Cultural Center plaza are at the top of my list. Art is not only aesthetic—it’s about empathy, solidarity, and reaching across divides.”
He also reflected on the transformative power of art: “During the COVID period, I wanted to donate blood, but couldn’t due to medication. I said, ‘I’m an artist—I’ll create a work with it.’ That piece (“Building Bridges”) became a symbol of fragility and compassion. Proceeds were donated to Doctors Without Borders.”
Founded in late 2019, Miart Gallery London has rapidly gained a reputation for curatorial excellence. In 2022, it was named one of London’s Top 10 Galleries by London Walks. In 2024, it was crowned Best Gallery in the United Kingdom and ranked among the Top 20 Galleries Worldwide by the World Art Awards and American Art Awards. In both 2024 and 2025, the gallery received the prestigious Gallery of the Year award across 21 countries from the Innovation and Excellence Awards.
Founder İrem Deniz says of the Miart Gallery international expansion: “Art knows no borders. Our vision as a gallery has always been to move beyond geography and speak a universal language through creativity. Istanbul, with its deep historical layers and thriving art scene, is the perfect city for this next chapter.”
The exhibition features Lorenzo Quinn’s sculptures that delve into themes of love, unity, humanity, and balance. Many of these artworks stand unsupported, relying solely on gravity—a physical metaphor for philosophical equilibrium.
Lorenzo Quinn explains: “Istanbul has long been close to my heart. People on social media were always urging me to exhibit here—and now, thanks to Miart Gallery, that dream is realised. This city will be a second home for me.”
Miart Gallery’s London branch previously hosted an important Banksy solo exhibition in October 2021 and is currently hosting Auguste Rodin’s solo exhibition, which is the world’s largest private gallery exhibition with 21 original works and plans to bring it to Istanbul in 2026.
Lorenzo Quinn is an acclaimed contemporary Italian sculptor known for his figurative works that explore themes of human emotion and eternal values. Drawing inspiration from masters like Michelangelo, Bernini, and Rodin, Quinn is most famous for his expressive depictions of human hands, symbolizing power, creation, and connection. Born in Rome in 1966 to actor Anthony Quinn and costume designer Iolanda Addolori, he was raised between Italy and the U.S. His early artistic influences came from his father’s involvement in painting and sculpture.
Initially studying to be a Surrealist painter at the American Academy of Fine Arts in New York, Quinn shifted focus to sculpture at 21. His breakthrough came in 1989 with a piece inspired by Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam,” marking his transition to sculpture as his true calling. Quinn’s works have been exhibited internationally, with major public installations such as The Tree of Life for the United Nations and Rise Through Education in Doha. His sculptures often carry symbolic meaning, with themes of love, education, and human resilience.
Quinn’s public sculptures, such as Encounters in Palma de Mallorca and The Force of Nature II in Shanghai, reflect his belief in the importance of balance and human relationships. His works have been shown in prestigious venues, including the Venice Biennale and the Hermitage Museum, and have been featured in exhibitions around the world.
In addition to his artistic achievements, Quinn is involved in philanthropic projects, donating sculptures to various causes. His monumental works continue to inspire, with recent pieces like Together in Cannes and Our Nucleus in Miami. Through his art, Quinn emphasizes the power of the human form to convey profound emotional and spiritual themes, leaving a lasting impact on both the art world and global audiences.
Lorenzo Quinn: The New Age of Bronze is at Miart Gallery Istanbul from 5th May until 30th July 2025.
The Lorenzo Quinn exhibition at Miart Gallery Istanbul is open to press and collectors by appointment
Miart Gallery Istanbul
Four Seasons Residences,12 A Etiler, Istanbul, Turkey
Miart Gallery Bosphorus
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus, Çırağan Cad. No:28, Beşiktaş, Istanbul
all images courtesy of Miart Gallery.
