Founded in 2025 in Istanbul, oktowallz is a street art platform dedicated to promoting art in public spaces and creating new opportunities for expression.
Born from founder Görkem’s years of experience producing independent street art projects, oktowallz aims to foster interaction between local and international street artists while expanding the boundaries of who creates art in the streets.
Beyond working with established street artists, oktowallz also opens up space for creators who may never have painted a wall before, but whose work belongs in the urban landscape. By bringing together artists, the public, and the city itself, oktowallz seeks to make art a more visible, accessible, and everyday part of life.
Through indoor and outdoor exhibitions, collaborative projects with private institutions, public organizations, and communities, oktowallz supports a wide range of artistic engagement. The platform also hosts exchanges — from workshops and podcasts to city tours and publishing initiatives — and produces large-scale events such as street art festivals that celebrate creativity in all its forms.
Why “oktowallz”?
The name is a nod to the total edges of a wall — four inside, four outside. It also reflects the multidimensional nature of street artists who work across styles, surfaces, and mediums.
And finally, it’s a tribute to the eight people who helped bring oktowallz to life: Toprak Fırat, Beste İleri, Kaybid, Ayşe Duru Kızılkayak, Görkem Kızılkayak, Ece Müftüoğlu Narcy, Romain Narcy, No More Lies
Founder
Born in Istanbul in 1976, Görkem Kızılkayak graduated from Lycée de Galatasaray, studied Archaeology at Istanbul University and completed his master’s degree with a focus on Byzantine architecture.
Since the 1990s, he has worked with various NGOs and city governments on cultural heritage projects, contributed to numerous publications as a writer and photographer, and authored books exploring the urban fabric of Istanbul — from Byzantine structures to public fountains. He also served as the editor-in-chief of B+ magazine.
His introduction to the world of street art came in 2014, during his work with the municipality supporting Pera Museum’s exhibition Language of the Wall. That experience sparked a growing passion for urban art, leading him to curate and coordinate a wide range of projects in public spaces — many highlighting themes such as environmental awareness, peace, and community. His work has been supported by consulates, municipalities, and private organizations, bringing both local and international artists into the public eye.
In 2025, he founded oktowallz with the motto art belongs to the street, taking on roles across curation, project coordination, and production to shape a platform where creativity meets the city.
Hear Görkem talk about his journey into street art and the story behind oktowallz here.