Johnny Depp is taking one of his most recognizable artistic creations from the canvas to three dimensions. Johnny Depp’s first sculpture, titled The Bunnyman, will be unveiled at Contemporary Istanbul in Turkey from September 22 to 27, 2026.
The sculpture will be displayed outdoors at Tersane Istanbul as one of the art fair’s special projects. The work is a collaboration between the Sigg Art Foundation, Pantheon Art and Milan-based Fonderia Artistica Battaglia.
What Is Johnny Depp’s First Sculpture?
The Bunnyman is a two-meter white bronze figure described as a half-human, half-rabbit guardian carrying a “sword of truth.”
The character itself is not new. Depp has used the Bunnyman repeatedly throughout his sketches, paintings, and prints, making the sculpture a three-dimensional continuation of a figure that has become closely connected to his visual art.
The work was created using the lost-wax casting process at Fonderia Artistica Battaglia in Milan. The process has also been associated with artists Depp admires, including Alberto Giacometti and Marino Marini.
What Is the Story Behind The Bunnyman?
The character can be traced back to a drawing made by Depp’s son Jack when he was about five years old. When Depp saw the drawing, it reminded him of a recurring dream he had experienced as a child at roughly the same age.
Depp has described seeing a mysterious, faceless figure in a dream while standing at the top of the basement stairs in his childhood home in Kentucky. Years later, his son’s drawing brought that memory back.
As Depp explained: “When people see the painting I did — The Bunnyman — they always ask the same question: where did it come from?”
Where Will The Bunnyman Sculpture Be Displayed?
The Bunnyman will be presented outdoors at Tersane Istanbul, the historic Ottoman shipyard on the Golden Horn. It will be part of the special projects at Contemporary Istanbul, which runs from September 22 through September 27, 2026. The sculpture’s outdoor presentation also gives visitors an opportunity to see one of Depp’s recurring artistic characters on a much larger physical scale.
FAQs
Does Johnny Depp Paint and Draw Often?
Yes. Art has been part of Depp’s life since childhood. His sketchbook has remained a constant part of his creative process, and he has continued to sketch and develop ideas alongside his acting and music careers.
Is Depp’s artwork publicly available?
For many years, however, Depp kept much of his visual art private and shared it mainly with family and close friends. His artwork became publicly available much later, with his first major public art release coming through his Friends & Heroes collection in 2022.
Who Inspires Johnny Depp’s Art?
Depp has cited artists including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Vincent van Gogh, Amedeo Modigliani, Edvard Munch and Julian Schnabel as influences. His work is also strongly shaped by his own memories, dreams, relationships and observations.
Is Johnny Depp a Professional Sculptor?
Not in the sense of having an established career primarily as a professional sculptor. The Bunnyman is being presented as Johnny Depp’s first sculpture, marking his move into three-dimensional sculpture after years of drawing, painting and printmaking.
Does Johnny Depp Paint or Draw Often?
Yes. Depp has been drawing since childhood and has continued to sketch throughout his life. He has also developed paintings and mixed-media artworks, many of which were kept private before he began presenting his art publicly.
When Did Johnny Depp Start Painting?
Depp’s relationship with art began during childhood, long before his film career. He has described drawing as a creative escape while growing up, and art remained a constant outlet as he moved into acting and music.
The Istanbul unveiling comes as Depp’s artwork is receiving attention in several parts of the world. At the same time, his exhibition A Bunch of Stuff at the Modern Art Museum Shanghai features more than 200 works. The exhibition opened in August 2026, giving visitors a much broader look at Depp’s work as a visual artist.
Another exhibition, The Art of Johnny Depp, is also being presented at Schloss Benrath in Düsseldorf through September 27, featuring works from his artistic career, including Bunnyman pieces.
So, while Depp continues his film work, his visual art is getting an increasingly prominent place of its own.
