Ebru Duruman, © Cedrik Pages
Ebru Duruman (b. 1992, Istanbul, Turkey) is a Geneva-based painter whose work explores sexuality, identity and the interplay between body and mind. Growing up in a socially conservative environment, her early life was marked by cultural and personal challenges regarding her sexual identity and individuality. After earning a Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design (2015), she worked in architecture. She then transitioned to painting full-time, using art as a medium for self-expression and self-acceptance.
Duruman's paintings balance abstraction and figuration, often depicting female forms that blend sensuality and emotional detachment. Her works, many of which are self-portraits, examine themes of sexuality as a bridge between physical and emotional experience. The imagery moves between fluid, expressive brushstrokes and intense, distorted compositions, encapsulating the duality of pleasure and pain in intimate relationships. Her early work portrayed restrained, lifeless figures, reflecting societal constraints, while her current work celebrates the liberated female body, emphasizing individuality and sensuality.
Duruman's practice is driven by a fascination with color, form and the exploration of personal identity. She has participated in prominent group exhibitions and art fairs, including Frieze London (2022), The Armory Show (2023), and Art Basel Hong Kong (2023, 2024). Her work has been shown internationally in the UK, USA, Turkey, France, and Switzerland, including recent exhibitions at Taymour Grahne Projects and Bloom Galerie. Through her art, Duruman challenges societal norms and invites viewers into a deeply personal narrative of self-discovery and empowerment.