Abdelkader Benchamma

The artist

Born in 1975 in Mazamet (France), Abdelkader Benchamma lives and works in Paris and Montpellier. Benchamma chooses to work in a sole medium: drawings. He adopts different approaches to the drawing process, sometimes moving across a sheet of paper with the meticulous strokes of an engraver, sometimes spreading over a wall with lavish gestures that appropriate the space. The matter escapes from the frame in a form of organic growth. Inspired by literature, philosophy, astrophysics and esoteric reflections, his works create visual scenarios that question our relationship to reality as they probe the frontiers of the invisible.

Exhibitions

Cosma

January 7 - March 18, 2023
Paris - Beaubourg
Signes

September 3 - October 24, 2020
Brussels
From the Paper to the Wall

June 6 - July 26, 2019
Brussels
Engramme

March 16 - May 19, 2019
Paris - Beaubourg

Biography

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Birth	Born in 1975 in Mazamet, France
Residence	Lives and works in Montpellier and Paris, France
Education	2003 - École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts, Paris, France 2000 - École Supérieure des Beaux Arts, Montpellier, France

SOLO SHOWS (SELECTION)

2024	Het Noordbrabants Museum (HNBM), Den Bosch, Netherlands
2023	Solastagia: 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
2022	Abdelkader 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
2021	Rayon fossile, Collection Lambert, Avignon, France Echoes, Rupture et Associés, Paris, France
2020	Signes, Galerie Templon, Bruxelles, Belgium
2019	Symetrie 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
2018	L’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

Voir plus

2017	Sous la terre, des étoiles, Art Kulte, Rabat, Morocco
2016	Abdelkader 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
2015	Abdelkader Benchamma : Representation of Dark Matter, The Stairway Project, The Wall Drawing Commission, The Drawing Center, New York, USA Random, FRAC Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
2014	Le soleil comme une plaque d’argent mat, Carré Sainte-Anne, Montpellier, France Simulacrum, Gallery agnes b, New York, USA 2013 Le 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 2012 Corrupted Theories, Gallery Isabel Van Den Eynde, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 2011 Le 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 2009 The Apparent Stability of Things, Galerie Chantiers Boite Noire, Montpellier, France All these masses are just pieces from the same...- Gallery Federico Luger, Milan, Italy 2008 Même 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 2007 Abdelkader Benchamma, Galerie du Jour agnés.b, Paris, France They think that once they are here, it will be ... , Gallery agnes.b, Honk Kong 2005 Incidents (Invisibles), Project Room, galerie du jour agnes b., Paris, France

GROUP SHOWS (SELECTION)

2023	Prendre 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
2022	Ce que nous avons perdu dans le feu, Villa Arson, Nice, France
2021	Comics Trip!, Collection Lambert, Avignon, France Un autre monde///Dans notre monde, Lieu commun, Espace d’art contemporain, Toulouse, France
2020	Un 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
2019	Un 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
2018	Melancholia, Fondation Boghossian, Brussels, Belgium (Un)conscious: A series of small serendipities, Gallery Isabelle van den Eynde, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2017	On 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

Voir plus

2016	Épreuves 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
2015	a_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
2014	Enigme au Club de la Compagnie, Centre d’art le LAIT, Albi, France Dans ma cellule, une silhouette, La Ferme du Buisson, Noisiel, France 2013 Chromophobia, 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 2012 Collectionner aujourd’hui, Collection Philipe Piguet, Centre d’art contemporain, Saint-Restitut The Island/A Game of Life, Manarat al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi 2011 The Future of a Promise, 54e Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy Music Covers ! , Point Ephémère, Paris, France 2010 Told/ 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 2009 Memory 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 2008 La dégelée Rabelais, Château d’O, FRAC Languedoc Roussillon, Montpellier, France Paperless Marks, ADN Galeria, Barcelona, Spain Narrations, Galerie Nancy Margolis, New York, USA 2007 Explosions, 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 2006 Nous 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 2005 Do-Ka, La Condition Publique, Roubaix, France 2004 Draw! , Commissariat Jean-François Sanz, galerie du jour. agnes b, Paris, France Dessin? - Carré St Anne, Montpellier, France 2003 Biennale des jeunes créateurs d’Europe, Carré Sainte-Anne, Montpellier, France 2001 Dessins en cours..., ENSBA, Quai Malaquais, Paris, France

COLLECTIONS (SELECTION)

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

RESIDENCIES (SELECTION)

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

AWARDS

2018	Winner of the Occitanie-Médicis Price, France
2015	Winner of the Drawing Now Price, France Art Collector Price, France

Press

The Art Newspaper - january, 2024

Les nommés du Prix Marcel-Duchamp dévoilés

Le Quotidien de l'Art - january, 2024

Le prix Marcel Duchamp révèle ses 4 finalistes

François Salmeron

Canvas - January, 2024

Finalists for the Marcel Duchamp Prize 2024 Announced

Beaux Arts Paris - january, 2024

Abdelkader Benchamma, finaliste pour le Prix Marcel Duchamp 2024

Les Inrockuptibles - July, 2023

Les déluges sortent du cadre

Transfuge - May, 2023

Oeuvre diluvienne

Julie Chaizemartin

News

Abdelkader Benchamma
Iván Navarro
Prune Nourry
GROUP SHOW – MÉTRO ! LE GRAND PARIS EN MOUVEMENT

Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine, Paris
From November 8, 2023 to June 2, 2024

On the occasion of the group show Métro! Le Grand Paris en mouvement, Abdelkader Benchamma, Iván Navarro and Prune Nourry will be exhibiting their works from November 8, 2023 at the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine in Paris. Focusing on mobility and urbanity, the exhibition presents visionary projects and the fictional world of the subway, curated by Dominique Perrault, Francis Rambert and Jean-Marc Hofman.

Abdelkader Benchamma
GROUP SHOW – PRENDRE LE SOLEIL

Hangar Y, Meudon
From December 16, 2023 to April 21, 2024

On the occasion of the group show Prendre le soleil, Abdelkader Benchamma will exhibit two artworks from December 16, 2023 at Hangar Y in Meudon.

Jean-Michel Alberola
Abdelkader Benchamma
GROUP SHOW – HISTOIRES DE PIERRES

Villa Medici, Rome
From October 13, 2023 to. January 14, 2024

On the occasion of the group show Histoires de pierres, Jean-Michel Alberola and Abdelkader Benchamma exhibit their works from October 13, 2023 at Villa Medici in Rome.

Abdelkader Benchamma
SOLO SHOW – SOLASTALGIA: ARCHAEOLOGIES OF LOSS

The Power Plant, Toronto
From October 13, 2023 to March 24, 2024

Abdelkader Benchamma’s solo exhibition Solastalgia: Archaeologies of Loss opens on October 13, 2023 at The Power Plant in Toronto.

Abdelkader Benchamma
SOLO SHOW – NEITHER THE SKY NOR THE EARTH

Lago Algo, Mexico City
From September 15 to December 23, 2023

Abdelkader Benchamma’s solo exhibition Neither the sky nor the earth opens on September 15, 2023, at Lago Algo in Mexico City.

Abdelkader Benchamma
SOLO SHOW – ŒUVRE CROISÉE

Librairie des Colonnes, Tangier
From July 1 to September 1, 2023

Abdelkader Benchamma’s solo exhibition “Œuvre Croisée” opens on July 1, 2023 at Librairie des Colonnes in Tangier.

Abdelkader Benchamma
SOLO SHOW – GÉOLOGIE DES DÉLUGES

Fondation François Schneider, Wattwiller
From May 13 to September 24, 2023

On the occasion of his solo show on the theme of the flood, Abdelkader Benchamma questions this universal myth, the collective psyche that is attached to it and conceives a fragmented territory.