My work often includes narratives of labor. When the GALERIST team first shared their idea for a show of "self-portraits," I immediately thought of making a collective portrait of the art gallery, capturing the teamwork, passion, inspiration, hard labor, and dedication involved in mounting exhibitions and everything else that artist representation entails. In the end, it became a self-portrait too, reflecting the collaboration and ongoing, complex dance involved in sharing an artist's work with an audience.

Through its depiction of space and its architectural pedestal, the work is also an homage to the late 19th-century building itself and its old Istanbul-style apartment interiors. It depicts the open office where the entire team works together, a symbol of the community the gallery has succeeded in building through its network of artists, writers, curators, and other arts professionals.

I opened my first solo exhibition at Galerist in 2004. Since then, I have held solo shows at other international galleries as well, and it's worth noting that none of those galleries are still around today.

The wonderful, predominantly female team running the gallery today is truly extraordinary in their support, professionalism, loyalty, and passion. What's more, I feel deeply honored to call them not only my colleagues, but also my friends.