Curator | Specialist in Middle Eastern Contemporary Art, Visual Documentation & Architectural Histories
In the ever-evolving landscape of fine art, where meaning is shaped not only by medium but by context, Aktekin Tozun brings a quiet clarity to the role of curation. With a background in architecture, heritage restoration, and contemporary visual culture, his approach blends structural logic with cultural fluency—bridging the past with the present in ways that make each exhibition at The London Art Exchange feel both refined and resonant.
Aktekin joined the gallery with a curatorial vision rooted in research, regional specificity, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. His exhibitions don’t just present works—they arrange experiences. Whether interpreting large-format contemporary pieces or integrating architectural references into installation design, his work reflects a deep commitment to thoughtful storytelling, spatial awareness, and historical dialogue.
A Foundation in Form
Aktekin’s academic roots lie in architecture, having earned his undergraduate degree from one of Turkey’s most respected universities. There, he developed a particular focus on Western architectural history, drawn to the dialogue between structure, symbolism, and sociopolitical change. But even early in his training, Aktekin found himself pulled toward the cultural dimensions of design—how buildings reflect identity, and how documentation shapes memory.
This led him into the heritage restoration sector, where he worked on several significant cultural sites, including a documentation and visual restoration project at Anıtkabir—Turkey’s national mausoleum and one of Ankara’s most visited historical museums. His work there, deeply detailed and sensitive to site-specific nuance, marked a turning point in his trajectory—away from pure architecture, and toward the broader field of cultural curation.
From Architecture to Art
Following his early professional experience, Aktekin moved to London to pursue a Master of Arts at SOAS, specialising in contemporary art and architecture in the Middle East. This period sharpened his critical lens and expanded his knowledge of global aesthetics, allowing him to engage deeply with themes of migration, materiality, urban memory, and cross-border artistic production.
After completing his MA, he worked as a freelance art consultant, advising on cross-cultural projects between Istanbul and London. His work gained recognition for its subtle fusion of design thinking and cultural insight, and one of his Istanbul-based consulting projects earned a national design award—further validating his curatorial instincts on a broader stage.
A Curator of Precision and Perspective
At The London Art Exchange, Aktekin brings a sense of structural discipline to every installation. He is deeply involved in exhibition planning—from artwork sequencing and spatial layout to the creation of moodboards and interpretive material. But his influence goes far beyond physical arrangement. Aktekin sees each exhibition as a layered conversation—between artist and audience, history and future, text and silence.
He is especially focused on integrating works by artists from underrepresented regions into the LAX programme, with a particular emphasis on voices from the Middle East and South Asia. For him, inclusion is not a thematic trend but a structural necessity—one that reflects the diversity of global collecting and the complexity of contemporary artistic language. His curatorial process often begins with research—examining the artist’s cultural background, medium-specific vocabulary, and wider discourse. He then crafts a spatial narrative around the work, pairing visual rhythm with interpretive clarity.
Shaping the LAX Experience
Since joining the gallery, Aktekin has contributed to several of LAX’s standout shows, including:
– A regional focus installation on post-conflict materiality in Middle Eastern abstraction
– A quiet, minimalist hang celebrating spiritual geometry in architecture and contemporary art
– A behind-the-scenes advisory role for a private collection presentation staged for institutional clients
His exhibitions have been praised for their balance: structured without rigidity, conceptual without losing emotional depth. He collaborates closely with artists on how their work is framed—both physically and ideologically—and has become a trusted voice within the curatorial department.
Perspective Outside the Gallery
Beyond his day-to-day role, Aktekin continues to write and research, contributing essays and catalogue texts that examine contemporary aesthetics through the lens of cultural heritage and architectural memory. He maintains an active interest in digital archiving practices and is a frequent attendee at symposia and exhibitions across Europe and the Middle East. His long-term ambition includes developing region-specific curatorial residencies, building bridges between diasporic artists and institutional spaces, and expanding LAX’s influence in new geographies.Aktekin’s voice at LAX is calm but distinct—a curator who doesn’t impose narrative, but reveals it through precision, patience, and depth. His work is a reminder that in the age of fast-moving spectacle, there is still room for quiet authority, rigorous thinking, and slow curation.
As The London Art Exchange continues to evolve its programme of exhibitions and collector education, Aktekin’s global perspective and architectural fluency offer a valuable anchor. He ensures that every exhibition not only looks right—but feels meaningful.