Demba Camara (1970) is a sculptor of Guinean heritage, born and based in Ivory Coast. His wooden sculptures of robotic figures and spaceships form a striking retro-futuristic universe, fusing ancestral iconography with modern imagination. Rooted in West African sculptural traditions and inspired by science fiction, comic books, and recycled materials, his works reimagine traditional fetish sculptures as “modern guardians.” By blending traditional forms with contemporary motifs, his practice explores themes of technology, memory, and duality, questioning how the spiritual and the technological, the local and the global, coexist in today’s world.

Demba Camara (b. 1970, Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire) is an established Ivorian sculptor from Guinean origin who lives and works in Abidjan, known for his bold, imaginative wooden sculptures that blend traditional African statuary through a futuristic lens. Born in central Côte d’Ivoire to Guinean parents, he first learned the art of sculpture from his older brother, fascinated by the use of wood as an expression medium. By 1990, he was working independently as an itinerant sculptor across West Africa before settling in Abidjan in 1994.

Initially, Camara worked in the traditional context, creating ceremonial sculptures for local communities and private commissions. He collaborated with well-known local sculptors and produced relief carvings, furniture, and human-scale figures for hotels, antique dealers, and international clients.

A major turning point in his career came with a commission on the theme of “Fétiches contemporains”. For the first time, he was given the freedom to break from formal expectations and dive into experimental forms. This gave rise to his signature series of robotic sculptures: colorful, bold, and laden with symbolic power.