Johnny Depp has made his sculpture debut with "The Bunnyman" at Contemporary Istanbul. The two-metre work is displayed outdoors inside the fairgrounds during the event's 21st edition, which runs from 22 to 27 September 2026, and is Depp's first completed sculpture. Its human-and-rabbit form links a public art debut to a family drawing and a childhood memory. HELLO! and Türkiye Today reported the work's debut in Istanbul.
"The Bunnyman" is made from white bronze. It stands among cafés and trees in an area open only to visitors. The hybrid figure is familiar from Depp's art: similar shapes have appeared in his sketches and paintings for some time, as Domus noted.
The story starts with a drawing Jack made when he was about five years old. The Sigg Art Foundation supplied the sculpture for Contemporary Istanbul. Information from the foundation, Depp connected the image to a recurring dream he had at the same age. The piece arrives at the fair with a personal story at its centre.
That personal link gives the sculpture its clearest point of distinction.
Contemporary Istanbul also presents a much larger work by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. His seven-metre black iron sculpture "Juana" dominates the Tersane Istanbul waterfront on the Golden Horn. Former shipyards there have been turned into a large commercial complex. The work was installed in August and is scheduled to remain until February next year, information from the artist's website.
"The Bunnyman" and "Juana" are among a dozen large-scale works across Tersane. Most stand in open areas, extending the fair beyond gallery interiors and into the former industrial site. Depp's debut draws attention with its intimate story and recognisable creator, while Plensa's sculpture fills the surrounding public space with its size.
The 21st edition of Contemporary Istanbul brings together 1,372 works by 736 artists from 16 countries, represented by 70 galleries. Several galleries come from Spain, giving the fair a clear connection to the Spanish art market and its established names. The Independent reported that the Sigg Art Foundation is participating in Depp's presentation.
Barcelona-based Joan Gaspar is returning to the event. Its director, Núria Ridameya, described the fair as a fixture for the gallery since 2015. The stand includes works by Picasso, Miró, Tàpies and Matisse, pieces by Josep Uclés, Montserrat Gudiol and Joan-Pere Viladecans, and sculptures by Étienne Krähenbühl.
Miró already has a strong presence in Turkey. Istanbul's Sabanci Museum hosted a 125-work exhibition devoted to him in 2014. Contemporary Istanbul gave Spanish artists their own section in 2024, featuring 21 artists born in the 1970s. This year's focus is Asia, with Germany planned for the next edition.
Depp's first sculpture adds an unusual dimension to a major fair. It places a private family image inside an international exhibition featuring monumental public works and established European galleries. Contemporary Istanbul gains a recognisable focal point while maintaining the wider scale of its programme. "The Bunnyman" gives the fair a human-scale story alongside its largest sculptures.
