THREE CITIES ACROSS THREE CONTINENTS UNITE THROUGH THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF ART

The “On the Same Parallel, in Different Cities – Three Continents, Three Cities, One Spirit” project, launched under the TOBB Izmir Women Entrepreneurs Council, coordinated by Izmir Commodity Exchange, brought women artists and the vision of entrepreneurship in art together with art enthusiasts simultaneously across three continents on September 28, 2026.

The TOBB Izmir Women Entrepreneurs Council has undertaken an international cultural and artistic initiative that brings entrepreneurship in art to a global scale. The exhibition “On the Same Parallel, in Different Cities – Three Continents, Three Cities, One Spirit,” organized as part of the “Entrepreneurship in Art Project,” opened its doors on September 28, 2026. Bringing together Izmir, Lisbon and San Francisco, three cities located at similar latitudes, the project aims to increase the international visibility of women artists, strengthen intercultural communication and lay the groundwork for lasting global collaborations.

The exhibition opening, which brought together representatives of the business and art communities, was attended by Konak Mayor Nilüfer Çınarlı Mutlu; Ercan Korkmaz and Bülent Uçak, Vice Chairmen of the Board of Directors of Izmir Commodity Exchange; Deniz Celep, Assembly Member and Chairwoman of the Executive Committee of the TOBB Izmir Women Entrepreneurs Council; and numerous guests.

A Hybrid Exhibition Experience Across Three Cities

Combining physical and digital presentations through a hybrid model, the project creates a cultural bridge between the three cities. Within this framework, Galeri A, a historic mansion reflecting the city's cultural heritage that was transformed into an art gallery by Ayşegül Kurtel, will host works by women artists from Izmir. Works by artists participating from San Francisco and Lisbon will be featured through digital presentations. The US component of the project will take place as part of San Francisco Art Week under the coordination of entrepreneur Refika Çelik. Alongside works by San Francisco-based artists, a piece by architect Ayşe Tatari from Izmir will be physically exhibited. Other works from Izmir will be presented to audiences in San Francisco through digital displays. Works by Lisbon-based artists will also be incorporated into the digital exhibitions in Izmir and San Francisco, overcoming geographical distances through art.

Transcending the Boundaries of Physical Spaces

Işıl Nişli, Executive Committee Member of the TOBB Izmir Women Entrepreneurs Council, emphasized that the most significant aspect distinguishing the initiative from a conventional exhibition is its perspective on "entrepreneurship in art."

Stating that the initiative aims to support women artists in accessing international exhibition and sales platforms, Nişli said, “Online meetings and experience-sharing sessions will contribute to the development of our long-term collaboration. The exhibition process, which began on September 28, 2026, will create a continuous global flow of art across different geographies, taking advantage of the time differences between the cities. Supported by social media channels, shared hashtags and international media communications, the project will transcend the boundaries of physical spaces and evolve into a living global network in the digital world. We may be in different cities and on different continents, but our free-spirited, vibrant and pioneering character will unite us through art.”

Breaking Down Barriers and Opening New Doors

Deniz Celep, Chairwoman of the Executive Committee of the TOBB Izmir Women Entrepreneurs Council, emphasized that the project represents a visionary initiative bringing together women's entrepreneurship and art.

Highlighting that women create value in every field they contribute to, Celep made the following remarks:

“This value transcends borders and opens the doors wide to collaborative opportunities. Through the Entrepreneurship in Art Project, we are not only exhibiting the works of our women artists but also paving the way for them to become influential participants in the global art economy. Bringing together pioneering cities such as Izmir, Lisbon and San Francisco, which share a similar spirit and dynamism, through the universal language of art is a tremendous source of pride for us as businesswomen and artists from Izmir. This international bridge will serve as powerful evidence of what women's entrepreneurship can achieve on a global scale.”