The DOGANÇAY MUSEUM, Turkey`s first contemporary art museum, officially opened its doors to the public in 2004. It is housed in a historic 150-year-old five-story building located in the heart of the bustling Beyoğlu district of İstanbul. The building was in a state of complete disrepair when Burhan Dogançay purchased it in 1999. Following a major four-year renovation, it was restored to its former glory and its interior converted to meet exacting museum standards. While the museum is dedicated almost exclusively to the work of its founder Burhan Dogançay Turkey`s foremost contemporary artist-one floor has been set aside for the work of the artist`s father, Adil Dogançay.

Adil Dogançay was born in Istanbul in 1900. An officer in the Turkish army, he was also a well-known painter. His works are predominantly impressionistic land-and seascapes in oil on canvas. Few of his paintings are dated; most of those on dispaly in the museum were completed between 1940 and 1990, the year he died. He received his artistic training from Major Şeref Bey at the Eyüp Military Academy and from Major Tahsin Bey, a seascape artist from Diyarbakır, at the Topography School. He fought in the Turkish War of Independence and was awarded the Independence Medal. As a topographer, Dogançay traveled all over Anatolia, which gave him the opportunity to spend hours surrounded by nature. The artist produced almost all his paintings outdoors, calling nature his greatest teacher. Whenever possible, he would head into nature, paint box in hand, searching for subjects to translate onto his canvas.

Burhan Dogançay`s early artistic training was provided by his father as well as the well-known painter Arif Kaptan. From a young age, he learned the vital importance of good drawing. During the early 1950`s Dogançay spent a significant part of his student years in Paris studying art at the Acadmie de la Grande Chaumiere while simultaneously pursuing his studies at the University of Paris in law and economics, which culminated in a doctorate degree. During this period he continued to paint regularly and to show his works in several group exhibitions. Soon after his return to Turkey, he participated in many exhibitions, including joint exhibitions with his father at the Ankara Art Lovers Club. Following a brief career in the diplomatic service which brought him to New York City in 1962, Dogançay decided in 1964 to devote himself entirely to art and to make New York his permanent home. Now, some 40 years later, the opening of Dogançay`s own museum in his native Istanbul marks a new chapter in his life.