Sebiha Demir

Sebiha Demir is a Dutch artist whose sculptural practice is defined by a compelling interplay between material, form, and meaning. Born in Lochem in 1978, she lives and works in the Netherlands. She graduated from the AKI–ArtEZ Academy for Art & Design in 2004, where she developed the foundation for a practice that continues to explore the tension between beauty and discomfort.

Demir is best known for her distinctive sculptures of animals, constructed from an unexpected and highly charged material: .22 bullet shells sourced from police training exercises. Through a meticulous and labor-intensive process, she transforms these remnants of violence into intricate, tactile surfaces that form lifelike representations of wildlife. The material itself remains visible, imbuing each work with a layered narrative that extends beyond its visual presence.

Her sculptures depict a range of animals, including gorillas, elephants, panthers, penguins, and bears, rendered in expressive and often playful poses. At first glance, the works possess a softness and approachability, with their shimmering, almost fur-like textures and rounded forms. This apparent gentleness creates a sense of familiarity, drawing the viewer in. Upon closer inspection, however, the material reveals itself, introducing a stark contrast between appearance and origin.

This duality lies at the core of Demir’s work. By combining a visually seductive aesthetic with a material associated with destruction, she constructs a dialogue around the complex relationship between humans and the natural world. Her sculptures subtly address the impact of human behavior on wildlife, particularly the increasing vulnerability of exotic species. Rather than presenting a direct narrative, Demir allows this tension to emerge through the work itself, leaving space for interpretation.

Through this transformation of material, Demir redefines objects associated with harm into forms that evoke care, empathy, and reflection. Her work operates in a space where contradiction becomes a tool, where attraction and unease coexist, and where the familiar is reconsidered through an unexpected lens.

Education

• AKI–ArtEZ Academy for Art & Design, 2004