Zeynep Ayta is a cultural manager, curator, and lens-based artist. With a background in psychology, she holds a master’s degree in Arts and Cultural Management from the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya.
Currently based in Barcelona, Zeynep has experience in exhibition coordination, artist relations, project management, and festival and event organization. Her professional path includes roles in cultural institutions such as 212 Photography Istanbul (Turkey), Pilotenkueche International Art Program (Germany), and B-Murals / Centre d’Art Urbà (Spain).
While her artistic practice focuses on inquiries into the human experience, she also uses photography as a tool for documenting cultural productions and contributes reflections and interviews on contemporary art. Committed to working across disciplines within the cultural field, she has recently begun collaborating with the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism, while continuing to develop independent artistic projects and taking part in different cultural initiatives.
Work Experience (selected)
• Independent Project Manager, International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism, 2025 (Barcelona)
• Assistant Coordinator, Pilotenkuche International Art Program, 2024 (Leipzig)
• Venue Coordinator, Olympos Exhibitions, 2024 (Istanbul)
• Festival Assistant, 212 Photography Istanbul, 2023 (Istanbul)
• VIP Relations Assistant, Contemporary Istanbul, 2022 (Istanbul)
Projects
• diagno.zine, independent project, Co-Creator, 2024
• Someone Else, independent project, Creative Coordinator, 2023
• Hacking the City, exhibition organized by Istanbul Planning Agency, Curator, 2023
Talks & Publications
• Presenter in Third Room Artist Talks, Leipzig, 2024
• 'Survival' Issue, Superpresent Magazine, United States 2024
• On Collective Causes, talk as a part of the 212 Photography Istanbul program at Taksim Sanat, 2023
• As Seen By Women, talk as a part of the 212 Photography Istanbul program at Soho House, 2023
• "THE WAY WE LIVE (in the eye of the architect)", publication of the group exhibition by Tati Space Photography Center, 2023
Exhibitions & Awards (selected)
• Exhibited in 'Bombs, Bikinis & Borders', group exhibition at Gallery C6, Spain, 2024
• Recipient of ‘Young Artist Fund’ by Ali Ismail Korkmaz Foundation, 2024
• Exhibited in 'The Way We Live (in the Eye of the Architect)', group exhibition hosted by Tati Space Photography Center, Albania, 2023
• Exhibited in the 5th Chania International Photography Festival, group exhibition hosted by Blank Wall Gallery, Greece, 2023
• Finalist in the Creative Photo Awards Photography Competition hosted by Siena Awards, 2022
• Exhibited in ‘Bi’ Nevi Sergi’, independent group exhibition at Arthere istanbul, 2019