SANKI gallery’s recent opening on 27 October 2025 marked a new, and exciting era for Edinburgh’s art scene. Hidden below the Krem Karamel bakery and cafe on 68 Inverleith Row, this contemporary gallery is far from conventional, and is one we should expect great things from.
Built on an idea by SANKI’s founder Defne Dogru for an accessible space for young creatives, the gallery offers a refreshing outlook that subverts traditional art curation practices. With a mission to create interdisciplinary experiences of art, with community-building at its core, SANKI promises to be an inclusive space that champions the work of emerging artists who are often overshadowed in an industry that favours fame, and prestige over originality.
Between the artistic partnership of Defne (SANKI founder), a graduate of Music from the University of Glasgow, and ECA Painting alumni, Rosie Hodgson Smith (SANKI Director and Curator), the collaborative pair offer a wealth of capability in fulfilling the gallery’s aims of interdisciplinary curation. SANKI’s opening exhibition Environmental Renderings (open until 16 November 2025) brings together emerging artists in the discussion of making art in a time of environmental and societal conflict.
The pair’s position as recent graduates sets them apart from the detached and inaccessible nature of traditional art galleries. Their understanding of the importance of uplifting, and appreciating the voices of the overlooked is an empowering message in an era where the pursuit of Art as a full-time career is often perceived as a fantasy that promises certain disappointment. For students graduating from Art degrees, galleries like SANKI makes the uncertain transition out of university for creatives that bit easier. SANKI is paving the way to ensuring that the voices of tomorrow are nurtured by the galleries of today.
Photo by provided by SANKI
