About
Demo Dema, aka Karolina Dema and Virgile Demo, is an art duo living and working between Brussels, Belgium, and Paris, France. Their illustrations for the children's book L’Ile des Mers Perdues became part of the French National Archives in June 2021. Both graduated from the University of Brighton with a BA in Fine Arts Painting in 2020, where they met. Their work focuses on themes of collective memory, international relations, and the influence of fashion on political discourse, utilizing drawing and painting as their primary mediums. They also run the Drawing Sesh, an online drawing school launched in Spring 2020.
Karolina, originally from Czestochowa, Poland, has been trained in various artistic disciplines since age 12, while Virgile, from Paris, France, transitioned from a career in media production to art. Their exhibitions span several countries, including the US (Bass & Rainer, San Francisco, 2015), the UK (Hove Museum in 2020), France (Paris: Carreau du Temple, 2017, La Bellevilloise, 2021), Belgium (Brussels: After Hours, 2021, CELEBRATION, 2023) and Poland (Czestochowa: Jewish Museum, 2017), with their works held in notable private collections worldwide.
For more info, get in touch: info@demodema.com
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Karolina Dema
Born 1995 · Lives and works in Brussels
EDUCATION
2020 BA (Hons) Fine Art Painting, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK
2018 BA Fine Art, Painting, Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design, Wrocław, Poland 2014 Diploma in Visual Arts, Jacek Malczewski Complex of Art Schools, Częstochowa, PolandTWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2025 Portraits of Writers, drawings, with Virgile Demo, Librairie Le Contre-Ciel, Paris, France 2025 The November Issue, drawings, with Virgile Demo, Bar La Bagarre, Brussels, Belgium 2024 A Room Full of Signs, paintings and drawings, with Virgile Demo, Brussels, Belgium 2023 Celebration, paintings, with Virgile Demo, Brussels, Belgium
2020 CLICHE.S, drawings, with Virgile Demo, V&K Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
INSTITUTIONAL EXHIBITIONS
2021 L’île des Mers Perdues, Archives nationales, Paris, France 2020 Painting Exhibition, Hove Museum, Hove, UK
2017 Jewish Museum, Częstochowa, PolandSELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026 Potluck, drawing and painting, Brussels, Belgium
2022 Final Show, drawing, Oxbridge Academic Program, Paris, France
2022 Post It, collage, De Krook Library, Ghent, Belgium
2021 La Grande Fête de Pièce Détachée, drawing, La Bellevilloise, Paris, France 2021 After Hours, drawing and performance, Brussels, Belgium
2019 How Did We Get Here?, painting, University of Brighton, UK
2019 Age of: Exploration, second-year show, Brighton University Gallery, UK 2019 LIMBO, SEAS, Brighton, UK
2018 Painting Festival, Wrocław, Poland
2014 Graduation Show, Jerzy Duda-Gracz Gallery, Częstochowa, Poland
2013 CEA Regional Art Exhibition, painting, Katowice, PolandRESIDENCIES
2024 Private residency around the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Hoxton Hotel, Brussels, Belgium 2022 Private residency, Porte de Namur, Brussels, Belgium
2019 Shit The Bed Project, Brighton, UK
2014 Thelma Yellin School, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel2013 Ceramics residency, Tomaszowice, Poland
PUBLICATIONS
2021 L’île des Mers Perdues, children’s book illustrations, Archives nationales 2021 LEAF Magazine #3: portfolio of 10 fashion illustrations
2021 Pièce Détachée #4: “The Hat Issue”
2021 Ensemble Magazine, “Inauguration” issue: portfolio of 10 illustrations 2020 LEAF Magazine #2: portfolio of 18 fashion illustrations2019 1854 Magazine: joint interview with Karolina Dema and Virgile Demo CURATING
2019 Age of: Exploration, second-year show, University of Brighton, UK
TEACHING
2020–present The Drawing Sesh, online drawing school
2022–2023 Art Instructor (July sessions), Oxbridge Academic Program, Paris, France -
Virgile Demo
Born 1986 · Lives and works in Brussels
EDUCATION
2020 BA (Hons) Fine Art Painting, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK 2011 MA International Affairs, Sciences Po, Paris, France
2007 BA History, Paris-Sorbonne University, Paris, FranceSOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019 Of Pets and People, drawings, Dog & Bones Gallery, Brighton, UK 2019 The Grand Tour, paintings, Coachwerks, Brighton, UK
2019 Family Portraits, drawings, Louie Media, Paris, France
2016 Le Kolaj, 2010–2016, collages, Galerie du ViDe, Paris, FranceTWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2025 Portraits of Writers, drawings, with Karolina Dema, Librairie Le Contre-Ciel, Paris, France 2025 The November Issue, drawings, with Karolina Dema, Bar La Bagarre, Brussels, Belgium 2024 A Room Full of Signs, paintings and drawings, with Karolina Dema, Brussels, Belgium 2023 Celebration, paintings, with Karolina Dema, Brussels, Belgium
2020 CLICHE.S, drawings, with Karolina Dema, V&K Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
INSTITUTIONAL EXHIBITIONS
2021 L’île des Mers Perdues, Archives nationales, Paris, France 2020 Painting Exhibition, Hove Museum, Hove, UK
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 Final Show, drawings, Oxbridge Academic Program, Paris, France
2022 Post It, collages, De Krook Library, Ghent, Belgium
2021 La Grande Fête de Pièce Détachée, drawings, La Bellevilloise, Paris, France 2021 After Hours, drawing and performance, Brussels, Belgium
2019 How Did We Get Here?, paintings, University of Brighton, UK
2019 Age of: Exploration, second-year show, Brighton University Gallery, UK
2017 To Gaether Art Fair, collages, Carreau du Temple, Paris, France
2015 To Whom It May Concern, collages, Bass & Reiner Gallery, San Francisco, USARESIDENCIES
2022 Private residency, Porte de Namur, Brussels, Belgium 2019 Shit The Bed Project, Brighton, UK
PUBLICATIONS
2021 L’île des Mers Perdues, Archives nationales
2021 LEAF Magazine #3: portfolio of 10 fashion illustrations
2021 Pièce Détachée #4: “The Hat Issue”
2021 Ensemble Magazine, “Inauguration” issue: portfolio of 10 illustrations 2020 LEAF Magazine #2: portfolio of 18 fashion illustrations
2019 1854 Magazine: joint interview with Karolina Dema and Virgile Demo 2017 Le Kolaj, 2010–2016CURATING
2019 Age of: Exploration, second-year show, University of Brighton, UK 2016 Le Kolaj, 2010–2016, Galerie du ViDe, Paris, France
2009 Sciences Po Photography Exhibition, Paris, FranceTEACHING
2020–present 2022–2023 2019–2021
The Drawing Sesh, online drawing school
Art Teacher (July sessions), Oxbridge Academic Program, Paris, France Art Teacher, Archives nationales, Paris, France