Adel Abdessemed

Adel Abdessemed, born in 1971 in Constantine, Algeria, currently resides and works in Paris, France. His artistic practice spans diverse media and frequently engages with themes of war, violence, and religion. His striking imagery confronts the harsh realities of contemporary life, informed by his experiences during Algeria’s civil war, which began in 1992. Abdessemed carries the memory of trauma and atrocities, stating, “I’ve experienced very directly the violence that I talk about. Even today, the wounds remain open and the questions unanswered.”

Manipulating familiar materials, he creates provocative works influenced by global conflicts, believing his art challenges norms and expresses anger while ultimately remaining positive. With a strong background in classical culture, literature, and music, he blends various forms of expression to reveal society’s fragility. His work serves as a resistance to conformity, urging audiences to confront darker aspects of human existence.

Abdessemed’s commitment to interdisciplinary dialogue has led to collaborations with notable writers and poets, including Hélène Cixous and Julia Kristeva, as well as architects like Jean Nouvel.

Abdessemed’s work has been presented at four Venice Biennales (2003, 2007, 2011, 2015), where he received the Benesse Prize in 2007. He has been the subject of solo exhibitions at major institutions including the Centre Georges Pompidou, the San Francisco Art Institute, MoMA PS1, the Musée d’art moderne et contemporain in Geneva, and others. His work is held in the permanent collections of the Musée d’art moderne de la Ville de Paris; the Musée national d’art moderne Georges-Pompidou, Paris; collection Budi Tek, Shanghai; the Fondation François Pinault, Venice; The Louis Vitton Collection, among many others. Abdessemed worked on the scenography and costumes for the opéra Saint François d’Assise by Olivier Messiaen staged in 2024 at the Grand Théâtre in Geneva.