About
General information about the collection:
The Arkin Rodin Collection Gallery was established in 2017 on the occasion of the inauguration of the
Arkin University of Creative Arts and Design, the only university in Cyprus and the region solely
dedicated to the arts and design.
Founder Erbil Arkin began collecting art in the early 2000s and developed his collection with carefully selected works over time, through relentless effort and devotion. The collection showcases 30 sculptures by French artist Auguste Rodin, including a rare edition of The Vase of the Titans made in collaboration with Carrier-Belleuse, iconic works like The Age of Bronze and The Kiss as well as key works from Rodin’s monumental commissions The Gates of Hell and The Burghers of Calais.
Erbil Arkin’s collection of Rodin’s works is exhibited in a dedicated exhibition hall at The Clock Tower, the headquarters of Arkin Group, together with archival materials including the first-edition monographic print on Auguste Rodin by Leon Maillard (1899), with a signed presentation card by the artist and several original prints such as a dry point by Rodin, "Antonin Proust” present in two states both on Japan paper.
The artworks presented at the The Arkin Rodin Collection Gallery are part Erbil Arkin’s larger collection of artworks comprising of a total of 70 bronze, marble, and terracotta sculptures. The majority are exemplary pieces from the 19th-century by front runners of modern sculpture of the Petite École, including Auguste Rodin, Carrier-Belleuse, Jules Dalou, and Alfred Boucher among other important contemporaries of Rodin. The collection also includes 20th and 21st century sculptors by leading artist like Joanna Allen and Maurice Blik, a large number of paintings, works on paper such as original prints, drawings, photography as well as contemporary installations. A selection of artworks from the wider collection is displayed in various venues, including the dedicated exhibition hall Rodin Collection Gallery, around the Arkin Group Headquarters and adjacent Arkin University of Creative Arts and Design, The Arkin Iskele Hotel, as well as the two contemporary art galleries Art Rooms in Kyrenia and ARUCAD Art Space in Nicosia.
Vision
The core vision of The Arkın Rodin Collection Gallery is to present the creative legacy of Auguste Rodin, the pioneer of modern sculpture, to art enthusiasts through a universal cultural lens extending from Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus, to the world and to contribute permanently to art history by transmitting this unique heritage to future generations.
Our gallery was shaped by Erbil Arkın’s—one of the world’s leading Rodin collectors—long-standing admiration for Rodin and his commitment to art and was brought to life through his distinctive selection. As the most comprehensive Rodin collection known in the Middle East, The Arkın Rodin Collection Gallery is not merely an exhibition space but a multi-layered cultural and intellectual platform founded on the universal language of art. In this context, the gallery aims to present Rodin’s artistic exploration of the human spirit, physical expression, and timelessness within a framework of aesthetic coherence and intellectual engagement in dialogue with contemporary art.
This vision is further enriched through our structural and intellectual collaboration with Arkın University of Creative Arts and Design (ARUCAD), the first and only art-focused institution of higher education in Cyprus. ARUCAD's approach, based on a creative learning model, its academic environment that fosters critical thinking, and its positioning of art as a fundamental tool for social transformation all reinforce our gallery's cultural and educational mission.
Aiming to build a bridge between Cyprus’s rich and layered historical-cultural heritage and Rodin’s universal artistic vision, The Arkın Rodin Collection Gallery aspires to become a cultural and educational institution of reference not only on a regional level but also on an international scale. With a firm belief in the transformative power of art, we are committed to offering our audiences a multidimensional experience enriched not only by the works but also by their intellectual, emotional, and aesthetic resonance.
Mission
The mission of The Arkın Rodin Collection Gallery is to preserve, study, and reinterpret the artistic legacy of Auguste Rodin through contemporary perspectives, making it accessible to a broader audience. Central to this mission is the aim to make the aesthetic, intellectual, and historical values at the heart of our collection available to art enthusiasts, students, and researchers—bridging art with social life as a medium for learning and reflection.
Beyond being a venue for displaying artworks, the gallery aspires to become a cultural and knowledge production centre, enabling academic collaborations, interdisciplinary talks, and research focused on art history and theory. In this respect, its intellectual partnership with Arkın University of Creative Arts and Design (ARUCAD) promotes artistic development within the axis of education and research.
By exploring the relationship between the human spirit, the body, and expression through the lens of Rodin’s work, our gallery places the transformative power of art at its core. It seeks to cultivate ongoing engagement with its audience through programs and events that support cultural diversity, nurture critical thought, and enhance artistic sensitivity.