Hediye Usta, known as Hedo, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and she grew up in Ankara, Turkiye, where she still lives and works as an emergency doctor.

Beyond medicine, she is a self-taught visual artist who specializes in working with recycled materials, creating raw and thought-provoking pieces that often reflect themes of feminism, activism, and resistance. Balancing the demanding worlds of healthcare and art, she finds solace in her studio, where she immerses herself in her creative process. Deeply involved in feminist activism, her art serves as a powerful statement against gender-based violence, police brutality, and social injustices.

Throughout our conversation, her passion for both medicine and art shines through, proving that her work—whether in an emergency room or a studio—is driven by a deep commitment to making a difference.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Where are you from, where do you live, and what do you do? Also, an interesting fact about you?

I am Hediye, but most people call me Hedo—a nickname my dad gave me. I’m 27 years old. My parents are from Samsun, Turkey, but I was born in Boston, Massachusetts, while my father was pursuing his master’s degree. I grew up in Ankara, Turkey, where I still live and work as an emergency doctor. I will be moving to the UK soon inshallah.

I’m a self-taught visual artist. I do a bit of everything—sculpture, painting, textile art, installations—but I feel most at home working with recycled materials. There’s something about turning discarded stuff into something new that just clicks with me. An interesting fact about me is that I can’t instinctively tell my right from my left. To figure it out, I have to hold a pencil in my hand—it’s my little trick for orientation. It’s a bit of a challenge, especially as a doctor working with the human body, where left and right actually matter! But I’ve learned to adapt, and it always makes for a good laugh with my colleagues and patients.

You are both a doctor and visual artist. How do you find the balance between these two demanding fields?

Well, that’s just how it is. I’ve always pursued an artistic career, but I knew from the beginning that it wouldn’t be enough on its own. I also have a deep love for science and research, and medicine provides the perfect space to explore both. The human body and its complexities have always fascinated me.

Balancing these two demanding fields isn’t easy, but I don’t have the right to complain about it. I’ve always chosen the more challenging path, constantly pushing myself to improve and test my limits. The downside is that I can’t produce a large volume of work, but everything I create is intentional—rare and meaningful. One advantage of my schedule is that, while my shifts are long, I only work seven or eight full days a month, which leaves me plenty of time to focus on my art and other things I do.

After a 24-hour shift in the emergency room, I take some time to rest and then have a full day off. On those days, I’m usually in my studio—or, more accurately, a makeshift apartment in one of Ankara’s ghettos, it is a long and funny story—where I can be completely alone, immerse myself in my work, and escape from daily stresses. I can spend hours on a single project, completely focused. I prefer having this kind of uninterrupted time for my art, which is why I don’t take on many commissions. Working under tight deadlines, whether for an exhibition or a personal project, makes me uncomfortable. I like to let my creative process unfold naturally, without pressure.

What inspires your artistic process or the themes in your work?

As I always emphasize—women’s solidarity! I proudly call myself a feminist artist who creates to draw attention to femicides, violence against women, kids, and animals, police brutality, and all! I believe art is the strongest form of activism; it is silent yet it says a lot.

I also get my inspiration from other artists who create protest art. I have strong influences from punk in my art, both culturally and ideologically. I love incorporating punk elements into my art—DIY items, rats, metals, dirty-crusty things, things people wouldn’t want to look at, things that make them uncomfortable. I want them to be slightly disturbed—hehe!

Your work strongly reflects themes of feminism, solidarity, and raw, chaotic femininity. What drives these themes in your art?

Since a very young age, I have been part of the feminist struggle—whether by marching on March 8th, participating in social media campaigns, collecting signatures, or working with women’s organizations to provide social, psychological, and medical support to women.

For the past three years, as an emergency physician, I have been conducting medico-legal examinations of women who have been beaten, harassed, and abused by their husbands, fathers, or brothers. I meticulously fill out medico-legal reports and pay close attention to every detail to ensure I can help them as much as possible. I remind each of them that they are not alone—I hold them, I cry with them. You might say that this is not ethical or professional, but at that moment, I don’t care. I just want my sisters to know that someone is by their side.

As I continue to witness male violence in everyday life, my feminist expressions in my art have become even stronger. I have raised my voice even louder. I have celebrated and continue to celebrate being a woman—it is the most beautiful thing in the world. Being the voice of my sisters is my greatest motivation. Even if we do not see radical change overnight, the progress made by the feminist movement over the years is undeniable. The next generation will be more feminist and believe in greater equality. Just thinking about this gives me the strength to do even more.

You’ve collaborated with major brands and art communities like Converse Turkey, Nike, and Based Istanbul. How do you approach commercial collaborations while staying true to your artistic vision?

Until I was invited to a shoot for a project, I had never realized I had any interest or desire for it. But once I experienced it, I really enjoyed.

Most of the collaborations I’ve done have highlighted my artistic identity and allowed me to promote my own work in some way. I don’t enjoy projects where I have to hide my personality and simply be a body carrying a brand’s products. I can’t dedicate myself to promoting something just for the sake of selling it—because that’s not my job, and it’s not something I do for money. I want to continue working with brands and agencies that invite me as an artist, interview me, and showcase my work.

I’d also love to take part in social responsibility projects. It’s an open call, people!

So, do you have a dream collaboration, an artist, brand, or platform you would love to work with in the future?

I’m a shy person when it comes to collaborations. I can’t approach anyone—I just wait for them to come to me, whether it’s a brand or an artist I admire! I really wish I could change this, but here I am, sitting on my sofa, waiting for an invitation from a brand, an art space, or someone in the art field. Good luck with that! There are many brands I love, but as a Turkish brand, I would really like to collaborate with Les Benjamins. I love their designs and style. Besides that, I think working with Market and Dickies would be amazing.

To be honest, I’m not particularly fond of merch-style product collaborations especially with local brands. I’ve been scammed by a few of them before—I’d love to name them, but I think they would sue me (lmao). Since I don’t know how to talk money, a few brands have taken advantage of that. However, thanks to my partner, I’ve become a bit wiser; he’s a marketing genius! Since we started dating, he has been my manager. If we can find enough motivation, we’d love to create our own merch—maybe even start a small brand. Honestly, we should have done it already. Being our own bosses would be really cool!

What’s next for you? Are there any upcoming projects or artistic directions you’re excited about exploring?

I’m currently preparing to launch a podcast, something I’ve been postponing for quite a while. I really enjoy listening to podcasts, so I thought, why not create one myself? I have plenty of topics and discussions in mind that I want to talk about. My idea is to create a conversational series that blends my personal experiences with my readings, covering a wide range of themes including my artistic practice, feminist art, and health.

As soon as I get the equipment, I plan to jump right in. In the near future, I aim to partner with a prominent women’s organization to offer workshops on sexual health for women in my city, which might also include online sessions. I love teaching and sharing knowledge, and I’m eager to grow in this area. We’ll also be hosting artistic workshops through the same organization—fingers crossed!

Additionally, since I’m in the process of relocating to the UK, I’ve been focusing on art spaces in London and keeping in touch with a few of them. I’m hoping to set up an artist residency, whether it’s abroad or within the country, if the timing allows.

Do you have any guidance for individuals aspiring to become artists?

Don’t listen to anyone. That’s the best thing you can do. Just go for it and go crazy. Step outside of the cage, trust yourself and start doing whatever you want. Don’t even listen to my cliché words. You don’t need it!

All you need is you. Xoxo hedo!

🌱 To check Hediye Usta’s works, here is a link!