Ylam Deme

Ylam Deme is an architect and artist. Born in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, she grew up in various cities across Africa and Europe with her own heritage spanning across four countries. Her multicultural upbringing deeply influences her work, imbuing it with a unique perspective that bridges cultures, her own and the ones in which she evolved.

Bridging disciplines, her practice focuses on rekindling lost or past memories and unveiling the unseen. From one work to the next, past experiences and scenes are combined into constellations of objects that aim to recreate the intangible and fragile image of a lost memory. Drawing inspiration from folklore, oral storytelling traditions and her diverse heritage, her creative expression embodies a fusion of influences ranging from surrealism to the poems of Aimé Césaire. This blend of cultural references and personal history results in a body of work that is deeply introspective. Viewed as a whole, her interventions entangle past and present narratives, inviting viewers into a realm where memory and imagination intertwine.

Living and working between London and Abidjan, Ylam Deme attended the Architectural Association in London (AA Dipl (Hons), 2022) and received prior training at the Atelier de Sèvres in Paris.