ISTANBUL.- Antik A.S., the leading auction house in Turkey, will offer exceptional paintings by the most important Modern & Contemporary Turkish Artists. The auction will take place on March 20, 2011 at the Swissotel the Bosphorus and will present selected 185 lots among the finest which ever to have appeared on the market for the first time. Special collection will be exhibited in Antik A.S. galleries until 20th March.

One of the highlights being offered in the sale is titled “VAV”, a large spectacular canvas by Erol Akayavas (1932-1999), one of the most important Turkish artists whose painting “The Siege” had fetched 1.274.000 EURO in April 2010, the world record price for any modern Turkish work of art sold at auction. His museum quality canvas in this sale is expected to realize 300,000 to 400,000 Euro.

An untitled abstract by Ferruh Basaga (1915-2010), the largest work by the artist ever to appear at auction, measuring over 3.6 meters long is expected to realize 200,000 to 300,000 Euro. Another modern Turkish masterpiece which will be offered at auction is oil painting by Burhan Uygur. The opening bid for this exceptional work of art, which belongs to Artist’s family collection is 100,000 Euro.

Olgac Artam, auctioneer of the sale, said “the sale is giving buyers an opportunity to own museum quality masterpieces. The top lot Erol Akyavas’s “vav” is an extraordinary painting which has never been in the market before. Not only being a monumental canvas from the artist’s “Hallacı Mansur” series, the letter vav has a significant place in Islamic mysticism and symbolizes humility and the universe. Such a painting is rarely seen outside of a museum.” Artam also invites all those who appreciate quality art to view the display before the sale.

Other monumental works by Albert Bitran and Selim Turan are also expected to fetch world record prices. Fahrel Nisa Zeid, Mübin Orhon will take place with exceptional paintings to excite collectors.

“Cone on a Wall”, which was painted by Burhan Doğançay in 1972 carries an opening bid of 150,000 EURO. There will also be other very special works on auction from the same artist’s series, Formulas, Doors and Ribbons.

One of Ömer Uluç's rare nude creations from 1980 will be on auction with a starting bid of 100,000 EURO. Mehmet Güleryüz's “Survivor” and other retrospective works from the artist's various periods have the potential to excite collectors and fetch unexpected sale results.

Besides these lots, works by Modern Turkish art's most important representatives, Adnan Çoker, Alaettin Aksoy, Neşe Erdok, Hakkı Anlı, Abddurrahman Öztoprak, Güngör Taner, Avni Arbaş, Orhan Peker, Neşe Erdok, Cihat Burak, Komet, Turan Erol, Oya Zaim Katoglu, Ergin Inan, Kemal Onsoy, Gungor Taner, Asim Işler, Abddurrahman Oztoprak, Zekai Ormancı, Mustafa Ata, Haluk Akakce, Nazif Topçuğlu, Ansen, Bedri Baykam and Azade Koker works will also be offered in the sale.

Olgaç Artam is organizing the auction which will be held at the Swissotel The Bosphorus on March 20, 2011. Presenting a very important auction 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. main building, until 20th of March. Many examples of the museum-quality artworks and masterpieces from 1950s to this day will be presented in the auction.

Antik A.Ş. the leading auction house in Turkey, is holding all the auction records for Turkish art market. Some of the last season’s successful sales include Erol Akyavas’s “The Siege” (1,274,000 EURO), Burhan Dogancay’s “Symphony in Blue” (1,260.000 EURO), Mübin Orhon’s “Abstract” (696,048 EURO) and Fahr El Nisa Zeid’s “London” (650,000 EURO).

The works can be viewed from March 10 - March 20, 2011 at Antik A.Ş.