“For the collector of "old" art, most choices have already been made. For the contemporary art collector, they are forthcoming, they are his - difficult, problematic, sometimes false or wrong. He is a traveler into the future, where everything is still only possible.”
about us
Collect Gallery brings together our spaces, projects, and initiatives dedicated to contemporary art and the culture of collecting.
With permanent spaces and ongoing projects in Sofia, Istanbul and Limnos, alongside publications, site-specific practices and international collaborations across borders, we create lasting relationships between artists, artworks, collectors and communities.
Because art lives fully when it is collected, cared for and shared.
Our history
Back in 1996
Our story begins with a passionate collector who envisioned a space where art lovers could meet, exchange ideas, and experience art together. His expertise in Old Masters and modern painting soon positioned him as a leading art dealer in Bulgaria.
A natural evolution followed: a growing desire to engage with contemporary art and living artists. In 2017, this led to the founding of +359 Gallery, an extraordinary venue housed in a century-old water tower in Sofia. Its international program quickly established it as one of the country’s most forward-thinking contemporary art spaces.
The vision expanded in 2022 with Charta Gallery, an intimate white-cube setting that offers a refined environment for exhibitions and artistic experimentation.
Driven by a broader regional perspective, the same year the collector founded Collect Gallery in Istanbul—one of the world’s most dynamic cultural cities. After several transitional venues, the gallery reached its permanent location in 2025, positioned at the vibrant heart of Istanbul’s art scene.
In 2024, a new direction emerged: Limnos Land Art, an outdoor program on the Greek island of Limnos. Located within a protected natural reserve, the site hosts evolving, site-specific installations that connect art with the landscape.
Across all these spaces, the mission remains constant: to present art that is rigorous, relevant, and deeply responsive to its context. Alongside exhibitions, numerous publications, artist editions, and the development of a dedicated collection have been realized through the Foundation ToCollectContemporary art.
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our locations
Charta, Sofia, BG
Founded in 2022 and located in the heart of Sofia, Charta is an intimate exhibition space dedicated to both contemporary and classical art. Conceived as a place for dialogue, research and artistic experimentation, the gallery presents exhibitions, publications and collaborative projects that foster meaningful encounters between artworks and audiences.
The name Charta derives from the ancient Greek χάρτης (khártēs), meaning paper or papyrus, reflecting the gallery’s connection to publishing, artistic documentation and the transmission of ideas. Through its program, Charta explores the relationship between visual culture, knowledge and collecting.
12 Vrabcha str
Tuesday - Saturday
15:00 - 19:00 h
MHG, Sofia, BG
Located in the heart of Sofia, MHG Space is a 200 sq.m. private collection space dedicated to the presentation of artworks spanning from Old Masters to contemporary art.
Organized through a series of interconnected rooms, the space offers a unique journey through different periods, artistic movements and collecting perspectives. Bringing together historical works and contemporary practices, MHG Space reflects the vision of a collector and the belief that art exists within an ongoing dialogue between past and present.
As the foundation from which many of the Collect Gallery initiatives emerged, MHG Space serves as a place for encounters, research and the development of a long-term culture of collecting.
51 Vasil Levski Bul.
Coming soon
Limnos Land Art
Founded in 2024, Limnos Land Art is an ongoing program dedicated to site-specific artistic interventions on the Greek island of Limnos. Situated within a protected natural landscape, the project invites artists to develop works that respond directly to the island’s geography, history and environment.
Each installation enters into dialogue with the surrounding landscape, exploring the relationship between nature, place and contemporary artistic practice. Through long-term projects and international collaborations, Limnos Land Art creates a space where art can be experienced beyond the traditional gallery setting, in direct connection with the natural world.
Keros (in front of Keros Blue Hotel)
June - Spetember
day-and-night
Collect, Istanbul, TR
Located in the heart of Beyoglu, Istanbul, the venue occupies a 100 sqm apartment on the 4th floor, with direct views over Istiklal Str. and the Galatasaray High School (Galatasaray Lisesi) The gallery offers an intimate yet flexible setting for exhibitions, projects and gatherings, allowing artworks to be experienced in close dialogue with the architecture of the space.
Visitors are welcomed through a staircase site-specific installation, which introduces the space as part of the artistic experience. For the first edition, we have selected Stela Vasileva’s with the artwork Ascending Tension.
Tomtom, Yeni Çarşı Cd. No:8, Beyoğlu
Tuesday - Saturday
14:30 - 19:00 h
Past Locatıons
2017 - 2026
Plus 359, Sofia, BG
Over the last decade, this space was dedicated to contemporary art — a place for exhibitions, encounters, experiments, and conversations between artists, curators, collectors, and audiences.
During this period, Gallery +359 realized more than 60 exhibitions featuring over 100 artists, alongside performances, lectures, and numerous cultural events that transformed the Water Tower into one of Sofia’s distinctive spaces for contemporary art.
We extend our deepest gratitude to all artists, curators, collectors, partners, and visitors who became part of the history of Gallery +359 at the Water Tower throughout these years. The Water Tower remains an important part of our story.
Stay tuned for our upcoming projects.
2023 - 2024
Juma, Istanbul, TR
Located in Istanbul’s Karaköy district, the Juma Space opened in 2023 and served as Collect Gallery’s second venue in Türkiye. Situated within the renowned Juma Building—home to several contemporary art galleries —the space formed part of a dynamic environment dedicated to artistic exchange and experimentation.
As an intimate exhibition space, it focused on presenting individual artists and introducing contemporary artistic practices to Turkish audiences, further expanding Collect Gallery’s cultural dialogue between Bulgaria and Türkiye.
2022 - 2023
TOphane, Istanbul, TR
Opened in 2022 in the historic Tophane district of Beyoğlu, Istanbul, this two-floor venue became the first home of Collect Gallery in Türkiye. Situated within one of the city’s most dynamic cultural neighborhoods, the space hosted exhibitions, meetings and collaborations that marked the beginning of the gallery’s international development.
As a place for exhibitions, dialogue and cultural exchange, the space brought together artists, collectors and audiences from across the region, laying the foundations for Collect Gallery’s continued development in Istanbul.
The Team
The Collect Gallery team is driven by the belief that contemporary art can create space in our lives to better understand ourselves and our place in the world.
We believe that art is not reserved for a select few, but is an essential part of our shared environment, culture and everyday experience. Through exhibitions, publications, site-specific projects and international collaborations, we work to make contemporary artistic practices more accessible and meaningful to diverse audiences.
Vladimir Iliev – Founder & Collector
Vladimir Iliev is the founder of Collect Gallery and the driving force behind its development. Beginning his journey as a collector and art dealer in 1996, he has dedicated decades to building meaningful relationships between artworks, artists and collectors. His vision laid the foundations for a platform that bridges historical and contemporary artistic practices while fostering a long-term culture of collecting.
Bozhana Dimitrova – Director
Bozhana Dimitrova oversees the strategic development and daily operations of Collect Gallery. Her work encompasses exhibition production, project management, communications, partnerships and institutional development across the platform’s activities in Sofia, Istanbul and Limnos. Through her curatorial and organizational approach, she contributes to shaping Collect Gallery’s public identity and international presence.
highlights
Catalogs, prints, art books