Abdelkader Benchamma

The artist

Born in 1975 in Mazamet (France), Abdelkader Benchamma lives and works in Paris and Montpellier.
A graduate of the Beaux-Arts de Montpellier and the École des Beaux-Arts de Paris, his preferred medium is drawing.
Nourished by literature, philosophy and astrophysics, his drawn installations continually challenge exhibition spaces, becoming, in his words, “spaces of resonance”, conducive to the summoning of memories, both individual and collective, geological and spiritual.
His vast ephemeral frescoes are painted directly onto walls with ink, transforming architecture into an otherworld, a world of flux and mental landscapes, between the recognizable and the indiscernible, on the border between the physical and the symbolic. Reflecting on the workings of perception, his works explore our systems of knowledge, the survival of myths and beliefs, but also reminiscences, retinal or neuronal persistence, whether on museum walls or sheets of paper.

Exhibitions

Biography

Download the pdf
BirthBorn in 1975 in Mazamet, France
ResidenceLives and works in Montpellier and Paris, France
Education2003 - École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts, Paris, France
2000 - École Supérieure des Beaux Arts, Montpellier, France

SOLO SHOWS (SELECTION)

2026Signs and Wonders, TEMPLON, Paris, France
Espai d'Art Contemporani de Castelló (EACC), Castelló de la Plana, Spain
2024Landscape of the fall, Het Noordbrabants Museum (HNBM), ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
2023Solastagia: Archaeologies of Loss, The Power Plant, Toronto, Canada
Œuvre croisée, Librairie des Colonnes, Tangier, Marocco
Géologie des déluges, Fondation François Schneider, Wattwiller, France
COSMA, Templon, Paris, France

Voir plus

2022Abdelkader Benchamma, Sant’Euno Church, in collaboration with Palazzo Butera and FIAF, Palermo, Italy
Abdelkader Benchamma, solo show at Galerie Templon’s booth, Art Brussels 2022, Brussels Expo, Brussels, Belgium
2021Rayon fossile, Collection Lambert, Avignon, France
Echoes, Rupture et Associés, Paris, France
2020Signes, Galerie Templon, Bruxelles, Belgium
2019Symetrie et soupirs, In Situ : Art Contemporain et Patrimoine, Abbaye de Lagrasse, Lagrasse, France
Abdelkader Benchamma : Fata Bromosa, MRAC, Sérignan, France
Engramme, Galerie Templon, Paris, France
Rumeur des cercles, Galerie les Chantiers Boite Noire, Montpellier, France
Un artiste, une œuvre, Fondation Hélénis special commission, Montpellier, France
2018L’horizon des évènements, CENTQUATRE-Paris, France
Echos de la Naissance des Mondes, Collège des Bernardins, on the occasion of the Nuit Blanche, curated by Gaël Charbau, Paris, France
2017Sous la terre, des étoiles, Art Kulte, Rabat, Morocco
2016Abdelkader Benchamma, Islands, Maison du livre de l’image et du son, Villeurbanne, France
The Great Invisible Battle, The Blueproject Foundation, Barcelona, Spain
The Unbearable Likeness, Gallery Isabelle Van Den Eynde, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Curiosité & Merveilles, Christie’s, Paris, France
2015Abdelkader Benchamma : Representation of Dark Matter, The Stairway Project, The Wall Drawing Commission, The Drawing Center, New York, USA
Random, FRAC Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
2014Le soleil comme une plaque d’argent mat, Carré Sainte-Anne, Montpellier, France
Simulacrum, Gallery agnes b, New York, USA
2013Le soleil comme une plaque d’argent, Commissariat Daria de Beauvais, Galerie St-Séverin, Paris, France
Abdelkader Benchamma, Gallery Federico Luger, Milan, Italy
The Invention of the Cave, Gallery agnes b, Honk Kong
2012Corrupted Theories, Gallery Isabel Van Den Eynde, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2011Le signal faible, ADN Galeria, Barcelona, Spain
Bruits de Fond, Frueshorge Contemporary, Berlin, Germany
Dark Matter, galerie du jour agnes b., Paris, France
La ligne de base du hasard, Galerie Chantiers Boite Noire, Montpellier, France
2009The Apparent Stability of Things, Galerie Chantiers Boite Noire, Montpellier, France
All these masses are just pieces from the same...- Gallery Federico Luger, Milan, Italy
2008Même les choses invisibles se cachent. Part 2 – CAC, Istres, France
Même les choses invisibles se cachent. Part 1 – ADN Galeria, Barcelona, Spain
Abdelkader Benchamma, Centre d’art contemporain La galerie, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
2007Abdelkader Benchamma, Galerie du Jour agnés.b, Paris, France
They think that once they are here, it will be ... , Gallery agnes.b, Honk Kong
2005Incidents (Invisibles), Project Room, galerie du jour agnes b., Paris, France

GROUP SHOWS (SELECTION)

2026La vie climatique. Histoires sensibles des collections privées - Triennale De leur temps #8, in partnership with ADIAF, Musée d'art contemporain [mac], Marseille, France
L'École des beaux-arts de Montpellier : une histoire singulière, in partnership with the Musée Fabre, MO.CO., Montpellier, France
ZIGN / Algerian-French Design Biennial, French Institute, Algiers, Algeria
2025Islamic Arts Biennale, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Apocalypse. Hier et demain, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris, France
Lire le ciel, Mucem, Marseille, France
2024Au bord des mondes, Prix Marcel Duchamp, Center Pompidou, Paris, France

Voir plus

Le jour des peintres, Musée d’Orsay, Paris
Les lois de l’imaginaire, curated by Laure Forlay and Sophie Sizabuire, FRAC Auvergne in collaboration with the Musée d’Art et d’Archéologie, Aurillac, France
2023Prendre le soleil, Hangar Y, Meudon, France
Neither the sky nor the earth, Lago/Algo, Mexicó City, Mexico
Metro ! Le Grand Paris en mouvement, Cité de l’architecture et du Patrimoine, Paris, France
Histoire de Pierres, curated by Jean de Loisy, Villa Medici, Rome, Italy
Constellations, Musée d’art moderne, Céret, France
Immortelle, MO.CO., Montpellier, France
2022Ce que nous avons perdu dans le feu, Villa Arson, Nice, France
2021Comics Trip!, Collection Lambert, Avignon, France
Un autre monde///Dans notre monde, Lieu commun, Espace d’art contemporain, Toulouse, France
2020Un autre monde///Dans notre monde, FRAC Grand Large — Hauts-de-France, Dunkerque, France
Artistes à la Une : Togeth’HER 2021, Monnaie de Paris, Paris, France
2019Un autre monde/// Dans notre monde, Frac PACA, Marseille, France
Eldorado - Lille 3000, Le Tripostal, Lille, France
Syncopation, Pola Museum of Art, Hakone, Japan
100 artistes dans la ville, Montpellier, France
Air, stone, water, X, Fondation Helenis, Montpellier, France
2018Melancholia, Fondation Boghossian, Brussels, Belgium
(Un)conscious: A series of small serendipities, Gallery Isabelle van den Eynde, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2017On aime l’art…!, Collection agnes b., Fondation Yvon Lambert, Avignon, France
Tamawuj, Sharjah Biennal 13, Commisaire : Christine Tohmé, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
EcoSystéme, commissaire : Mohamed Bourouissa, Château d’Oiron, France Monts et Merveilles, Le Bel Ordinaire, Pau, France
2016Épreuves uniques, Atelier Michael Woolworth, Paris, France
Le nom d’une île, Le Pavillon Blanc, Printemps de septembre de Toulouse, Colomiers, France
A quoi tient la beauté des étreintes, FRAC Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
Se souvenir des Belles Choses, MRAC, Sérignan, France
2015a_i_d_e_-_m_ém_o_i_r_e_:_ _f_o_o_t_n_o_t_e_s_ _(_P_a_r_t_ _I_I_)_, Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Un regard sur la collection d’agnes b., LAM, Villeneuve d’Ascq Traits d’esprit, Galerie du jour agnes b – Paris
Après avoir tout oublié, Asterides - Friche Belle de mai, Marseille, France
ROC, Commissariat Hughes Reip, Galerie du jour agnes b., Paris, France
Nice Drawings, Galerie Isabelle Van den Eynde – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2014Enigme au Club de la Compagnie, Centre d’art le LAIT, Albi, France
Dans ma cellule, une silhouette, La Ferme du Buisson, Noisiel, France

2013

2012


2011


2010


2009

2008


2007


2006


2005


2004


2003

2001
2013Chromophobia, Gallery Isabelle Van Den Eynde, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Turbulences II - Espace culturel Louis Vuitton/ Fondation Boghossian, Villa Empain, Commissariat : David Rosenberg et Pierre Sterckx, Brussels, Belgium
The Immigrants, Giudecca - 56e Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy
Graphic, Phakt, Centre Culturel Contemporain, Rennes, Paris
Paper Trail, The Barjeel Foundation, Katara, Doha, United Arab Emirates
2012Collectionner aujourd’hui, Collection Philipe Piguet, Centre d’art contemporain, Saint-Restitut
The Island/A Game of Life, Manarat al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi
2011The Future of a Promise, 54e Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy
Music Covers ! , Point Ephémère, Paris, France
2010Told/ Untold/ Retold, MATHAF, Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha, Qatar
Biennale d’art contemporain Le Havre 2010, Musée Maritime, Le Havre, France
Reading Room, Nomas Foundation, Roma, Italy
Fabula Graphica, Grandes Galeries des Beaux arts, Rouen, France
2009Memory Time, Printemps de Septembre, Là où je vais je suis déjà, Commissaire Christian Bernard, Espace des arts, Colomiers, France
Cadavres exquis - Printemps de Septembre - Fondation Espace Ecureuil, Toulouse, France
Comic Strip, Musée d’art contemporain, Sérignan, France
2008La dégelée Rabelais, Château d’O, FRAC Languedoc Roussillon, Montpellier, France
Paperless Marks, ADN Galeria, Barcelona, Spain
Narrations, Galerie Nancy Margolis, New York, USA
2007Explosions, Nouvelles acquisitions, Frac Languedoc Roussillon, Montpellier, France
Below the light – Galerie Federico Luger, Milan, Italie
Pas un jour sans une ligne, Collections St-Cyprien, St-Cyprien, France
Drawings and Dreamings, ADN Galeria, Barcelona, Spain
2006Nous nous sommes tant aimés, Collections de St-Cyprien, Saint-Cyprien, France
A. Benchamma / A. Biasuto, Galerie Chantiers Boite Noire, Montpellier, France
Drawn, Xpace Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2005Do-Ka, La Condition Publique, Roubaix, France
2004Draw! , Commissariat Jean-François Sanz, galerie du jour. agnes b, Paris, France
Dessin? - Carré St Anne, Montpellier, France
2003Biennale des jeunes créateurs d’Europe, Carré Sainte-Anne, Montpellier, France
2001Dessins en cours..., ENSBA, Quai Malaquais, Paris, France

COLLECTIONS (SELECTION)

Grand Paris Express, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
Musée régional d’art contemporain, Sérignan, France
FRAC Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
MATHAF, Musée Arabe d’Art Moderne et Contemporain, Doha, Qatar
FRAC Occitanie Montpellier, Montpellier, France
DRAC Centre, Orléans, France
FRAC Languedoc Roussillon, Montpellier, France

Voir plus

Musée des Beaux Arts, Orléans, France
Barjeel Foundation, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

RESIDENCIES (SELECTION)

2026Villa Albertine, New York, USA
2018 – 2019Villa Medicis, Roma, Italy
2017Beirut Art Residency, Lebanon
2016a.r.i.a Residency, Algiers, Algeria

AWARDS

2024Finalist for the Marcel Duchamp prize, Paris, France
2018Winner of the Occitanie-Médicis Price, France
2015Winner of the Drawing Now Price, France
Art Collector Price, France

Press

Palacescope - April 2026

Face à face avec une œuvre : Kometenbuch - Fulgure Everywhere

Bertrand Raison

Crackers - April 2026

Abdelkader Benchamma

Florence Guernalec

L'Éventail - April 2026

Voyage entre abstraction et figuration : les mondes cosmiques et archaïques d'Abdelkader Benchamma

Télérama - April 2026

Abdelkader Benchamma - Signs and Wonders

Laurent Boudier

Télérama - April 2026

Les meilleurs expositions à voir à Pairs en avril 2026

Beaux Arts - April 2026

Dans l'atelier d'Abdelkader Benchamma, cartographe des mondes invisibles

Juliette Collombat

Load more

News

Abdelkader Benchamma
KABARIN-JAVAKANTO : UNE LECTURE DE LA COLLECTION FONDATION H SOUS LE COMMISSARIAT D’ABDELLAH KARROUM

Group show

Fondation H, Antananarivo
From April 24 to October 17, 2026

In a dialogue with Malagasy culture and the concept of kabary—an oral tradition that accompanies key moments in communal life—works from Abdellah Karroum’s international collection are on view in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Abdelkader Benchamma’s work Sans titre (planètes) is featured in the exhibition.

Abdelkader Benchamma working at his desk.

Abdelkader Benchamma
CONVERSATION WITH STÉPHANE IBARS

Artist talk

TEMPLON Paris, 30 rue Beaubourg
Saturday, April 18, from 4 pm to 5 pm

As part of the Abdelkader Benchamma – Signs and Wonders exhibition, TEMPLON invites you to a conversation with artist Abdelkader Benchamma and Stéphane Ibars, chief curator et artistic director of the Lambert collection in Avignon. Taking place within the exhibition itself, this discussion will focus on Abdelkader Benchamma’s work, his sources of inspiration, and his upcoming institutional and international projects. RSVP

Abdelkader Benchamma
LA VIE CLIMATIQUE. HISTOIRES SENSIBLES DES COLLECTIONS PRIVÉES – TRIENNALE DE LEUR TEMPS #8 – MAC MARSEILLE

Group show

Mac Marseille
From April 4 to September 20, 2026

ADIAF is partnering with Mac Marseille for the 8th edition of the Triennale De leur temps, which highlights works acquired over the last three years by collectors committed to contemporary art. Abdelkader Benchamma’s ink on canvas AKHEIRO – Marabouts will be featured.

Abdelkader Benchamma
Daniel Dezeuze
François Rouan
Claude Viallat
L’ÉCOLE DES BEAUX-ARTS DE MONTPELLIER : UNE HISTOIRE SINGULIÈRE – MO.CO. PANACÉE, MONTPELLIER

Group show

Mo.Co. Panacée, Montpellier
From January 31 to May 3, 2026

Former students of the Montpellier School of Fine Arts are being celebrated in a group show in partnership with the Fabre Museum. Internationally renowned, the work of these alumni allows visitors to explore the rich and often overlooked history of this academic heritage. Opening on Saturday, January 31 at 12 pm

Abdelkader Benchamma
APOCALYPSE, HIER ET DEMAIN

Group show

BnF, Paris
From February 4 to June 8, 2025

On the occasion of the group show Apocalypse, Hier et demain, curated by Jeanne Brun and Pauline Créteur, Abdelkader Benchamma is exhibiting his works at the Bibliothèque nationale de France from February 4, 2025. The exhibition features a range of contemporary works, including monumental ones that depict the day after, marked by the “wrath” of God or the elements.

Abdelkader Benchamma
LIRE LE CIEL

Group show

Mucem, Marseille
From July 9, 2025 to January 5, 2026

On the occasion of the group show Lire le ciel, Abdelkader Benchamma exhibits six works curated by Juliette Bessette and Enguerrand Lascols from July 9, 2025 at the Mucem. Through this dialogue between the arts and sciences, the exhibition aims to question our current relationship with the starry sky.

Abdelkader Benchamma
ISLAMIC ARTS BIENNALE

Group show

Diriyah Biennale Foundation, Saudi Arabia
From January 25 to May 25, 2025

Abdelkader Benchamma participate in the second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale in Diriyah from January 25, 2025. The exhibited artists explore themes of spirituality, identity, and the intersection of past and present, while fostering cross-cultural connections and expanding the global understanding of Islamic art and culture.

Abdelkader Benchamma
LANDSCAPE OF THE FALL – NETHERLANDS

Solo Show

Het Noordbrabants Museum, Netherlands
From November 16 to March 9, 2025

The Het Noordbrabants Museum dedicates its very first exhibition in the Netherlands to Abdelkader Benchamma from November 16, 2024. For the occasion, the artist connects some of his works with the tradition of Dutch masters such as Jheronimus Bosch and Pieter Bruegel.

Load more

Videos

Abdelkader Benchamma

Signs and Wonders

Abdelkader Benchamma

Au bord des mondes

Abdelkader Benchamma

Cosma

Abdelkader Benchamma

Signes

Abdelkader Benchamma

Engramme

Omar Ba Abdelkader Benchamma Norbert Bisky Oda Jaune Chiharu Shiota

From the Paper to the Wall

Return to top of page