Mert Rüstem

Born in İzmir in 1969, Mert Rüstem is the youngest grandson of Crete-born portrait photographer Hamza Rüstem. He completed his primary education at Mustafa Reşit Paşa Primary School and, after attending Tevfik Fikret High School, graduated with honors from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Dokuz Eylül University. Although he began his professional career as an engineer, he later assumed the management of his family’s businesses, where he continues to work.

Shaped by three generations of studio photography, Rüstem developed an early interest in collecting and went on to specialize in the history of photography in Izmir and Crete—fields in which he has become one of Türkiye’s notable collectors. His research-driven efforts have contributed to the creation of a substantial archive. He has organized numerous exhibitions and presentations, delivered papers at various conferences, and published four books on the history of photography.

As a natural extension of his archival and research activities, Rüstem serves on the advisory board of the Hamza Rüstem Museum, founded by the Karşıyaka Municipality. He continues his work at his office in Izmir’s Kemeraltı district, a space frequently visited by researchers and photography enthusiasts, which also functions as a museum office.