Demet Muftuoglu

Who is Demet Muftuoglu?

Demet Muftuoglu Eseli is a prominent figure in the Turkish art and fashion scene. She is the founder of ISTANBUL’74, co-founder and creative head of Istanbul International Arts and Culture Festival, IST. Festival as well as the Creative Consultant of Vakko, the leading fashion house in Turkey. Muftuoglu divides her time between New York and Istanbul.

In 2009, She founded ISTANBUL’74 along with Alphan Eseli with the aim of bringing global events to Istanbul from the world of culture, making it the first and pioneering international arts and culture platform based in Turkey. ISTANBUL'74 has organized and curated exhibitions for international contemporary artists working in all media including Tracey Emin, Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, Jonah Freeman and Justin Lowe, Nicolas Pol, Angel Otero, Robin Rhode, Waris Ahluwalia, Sandro Kopp, and many more.

One of ISTANBUL’74's major initiatives has been the organisation of the Istanbul International Arts and Culture Festival, IST. Festival. The high profile event, free and open to the public festival brings together creative minds and offers a cultural exchange program between countries and various creative formats. Past Participants of the festival have included Gore Vidal, Zaha Hadid, Tilda Swinton, Terry Gilliam, Sophie Calle, Carine Roitfeld, Mario Sorrenti, Ferzan Özpetek, Reha Erdem, Marco Mueller, Jefferson Hack, and Kirsten Dunst.