Driton Selmani

Driton Selmani
Selmani in 2023
Born	(1987-02-08)8 February 1987 Kaçanik, Kosovo, Yugoslavia
Education	Arts University Bournemouth
Occupation	Artist
Known for	Conceptual art, drawing, photography, painting, sculpture, ready-made artist
Notable work	Love Letters (2018–2024) Manifesta 14 Prishtina
Website	dritonselmani.com

Driton Selmani (born 8 February 1987) is a Kosovar contemporary visual artist whose practice spans across various media including installation, photography, text, and public art.

Early life and education

Driton Selmani was born in Doganaj, Kaçanik, during a period marked by political unrest and conflict in the Balkans. Growing up in a post-socialist environment, his early life was influenced by the cultural and socio-political changes that took place during the dissolution of Yugoslavia and the subsequent Kosovo War.^{[ citation needed ]}

Selmani pursued his education in visual arts in Bournemouth, United Kingdom, at the Arts University Bournemouth.^{[ citation needed ]}

Artistic practice

Selmani's artistic practice is characterized by its conceptual depth and versatility across different media. His work often blurs the boundaries between art and everyday life, challenging conventional perceptions of public and private spaces. A recurring theme in his work is the exploration of how history, memory, and identity are constructed and perceived, particularly within the context of Kosovo's complex political landscape. ^[1] In a 2025 interview, he explained that his practice is deeply informed by the tensions of working in Kosovo and his choice to return from abroad after completing his MFA, situating the studio and local context as primary sites for his artistic thinking. ^[2]

Site-specific projects and public art

Eye to Eye (Amsterdam Light Festival, Netherlands)

One of his most prominent public artworks is "Eye to Eye" (2018), created for the Amsterdam Light Festival. ^[3]

Key exhibitions

Selmani's work has been exhibited in various international exhibitions. Some of his notable exhibitions include:

• Everything We Do Is Really, Really Brilliant (2023): This solo exhibition at Kahan Art in Vienna showcased Selmani's exploration of the intersection between public and private spaces. ^[4]
• The Other Re-Imagine the Future (2023): Held at Kunsthaus Graz in Austria, this exhibition featured Selmani's work alongside other contemporary artists, exploring the theme of speculative futures. ^[5]
• Manifesta 14 Prishtina (2022): a significant edition of the Manifesta Biennial, which took place in his home city of Pristina. His work in the biennial engaged with local narratives and the broader geopolitical context of the Balkans, further establishing his relevance in both regional and international art discourses. ^[6]
• Nobody Saw This Coming (2025) at On Top Residency involved planting a palm tree as an artwork, which he described as a gesture of irony and humility towards nature that shifts artistic language from industrial materials to organic forms. ^[7]

The Barking of The Clouds Does Not Hurt The Dogs

Held at MSU Skopje from 4 April 2022 to 25 February 2023. ^[8]

Love Letters on plastic bags

Love Letters, Manifesta 14

Since 2018, Driton Selmani has been developing a distinctive, ongoing project in which he writes love letters on plastic bags. This work touches on themes such as politics, ecology, art, and philosophy. ^[9]

References

1. Caraccio, Camilla (23 January 2019). "Conceptual artist Driton Selmani is taking his work to the streets of Kosovo". New East Digital Archive. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
2. Shalari, Erka (8 September 2025). "Driton Selmani: An affair with the readymade". Les Nouveaux Riches. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
3. Andrews, Zack (26 January 2026). "All seeing eyes, wormholes, and slime molds at amsterdam's 'existential' festival of lights" (published 26 December 2017).
4. "Everything We Do is Really, Really Brilliant". Eva Kahan Foundation. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
5. Hribernik, Andreja (27 September 2023). "The Other. Re-Imagine the Future". Universalmuseum Joanneum. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
6. "Driton Selmani". Manifesta 14. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
7. Berisha, Sinan (3 November 2025). ""Nobody Saw This Coming" me ekzotiken si akt ironie e përulësie ndaj natyrës". Koha.net (in Albanian). Retrieved 26 January 2026.
8. Krasniqi, Erëmirë. "Driton Selmani". Art Forum. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
9. Bradley, Kimberly (11 August 2022). "Five Balkan Artists to Watch at Manifesta 14". Frieze. Retrieved 10 September 2024.

External links

• Official website