Johnny Depp has presented his first sculpture at Contemporary Istanbul. The two-metre white bronze work draws on a childhood drawing by his son and a recurring dream from Depp's own childhood.
Johnny Depp has entered the sculpture world 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. It is Depp's first completed sculpture. Its human-and-rabbit form connects a public art debut with 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 accessible only to visitors. The hybrid figure is not new to Depp's art. Similar shapes have appeared in his sketches and paintings for some time, as Domus also noted.
Contemporary Istanbul 2026 runs from 22 to 27 September 2026, making Depp’s presentation part of the fair’s scheduled 21st edition rather than a separate exhibition.
The story begins with a drawing made by Jack when Depp's son was about five years old. The Sigg Art Foundation supplied the sculpture for Contemporary Istanbul. According to the foundation, Depp connected the image with a recurring dream he had at the same age. The piece comes to the fair with a personal story. It is not simply a celebrity project.
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 converted into a large commercial complex. The work was installed in August and is scheduled to remain until February next year, according to the artist's website.
Tersane Istanbul, the setting for the outdoor presentation, is a historic Ottoman shipyard on the Golden Horn. Domus described the site as part of the fair’s special outdoor projects, placing Depp’s sculpture within a broader programme of public-facing installations.
"The Bunnyman" and "Juana" are among a dozen large-scale works spread across Tersane. Most stand in open areas. That lets the fair move beyond gallery interiors and into the former industrial site. Depp's debut draws attention through its intimate story and recognisable creator. Plensa's sculpture fills the surrounding public space through 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 with the Spanish art market and its established names. The Independent reported the participation of the Sigg Art Foundation 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. It also features pieces by Josep Uclés, Montserrat Gudiol and Joan-Pere Viladecans, along with 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. Germany is planned for the next edition.
Depp's first sculpture is more than an unusual addition to a major fair. It puts a private family image inside an international exhibition with monumental public works and established European galleries. The result is a debut with a clear visual identity and a documented personal source. Contemporary Istanbul gains a recognisable focal point without losing the wider scale of its programme. Based on the evidence presented here, "The Bunnyman" works best as a distinct artwork, not a celebrity curiosity. It gives the fair a human-scale story beside its largest sculptures.
