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
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)

2026 Signs and Wonders, TEMPLON, Paris, France
L’horizon des évènements, Espai d'Art Contemporani de Castelló (EACC), Castelló de la Plana, Spain
2024 Landscape of the fall, Het Noordbrabants Museum (HNBM), ‘s-Hertogenbosch, 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

Voir plus

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
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)

2026 La 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
2025 Islamic Arts Biennale, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Apocalypse. Hier et demain, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris, France
Lire le ciel, Mucem, Marseille, France
2024 Au 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
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
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

2012


2011


2010


2009

2008


2007


2006


2005


2004


2003

2001
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)

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)

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

AWARDS

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

Press

Codex - May 2026

Signs and Wonders : l'univers ésotérique d'Abdelkader Benchamma à la galerie Templon

Paris Capitale - April 2026

Abdelkader Benchamma. Signs and Wonders

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

Load more

News

Abdelkader Benchamma
SOLASTALGIA: ARCHAEOLOGIES OF LOSS

Solo Show

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
NEITHER THE SKY NOR THE EARTH

Solo Show

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
ŒUVRE CROISÉE

Solo Show

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
GÉOLOGIE DES DÉLUGES

Solo Show

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.

Abdelkader Benchamma
CONSTELLATIONS

Group show

Musée d’art moderne de Céret, France From May 13 until November 26, 2023

On the occasion of the group show Constellations at the Musée du Céret, Abdelkader Benchamma will exhibit his artworks from May 13, 2023.

Orsten Groom
Oda Jaune
Abdelkader Benchamma
GROUP SHOW – IMMORTELLE

MO.CO, Montpellier
From March 11 to May 7, 2023

As part of the group show Immortelle at MO.CO, Oda Jaune, Abdelkader Benchamma and Orsten Groom will be exhibiting their work from March 11 to May 7, 2023.   Immortelle offers an ambitious panorama of young French figurative painting. For the first time, the exhibition will be spread over all the art centres and will be organised in two parts.

Abdelkader Benchamma
GROUP SHOW – LE DESSIN COLLECTIONNÉ

Drawing House, Paris
Through May 16, 2023

On the occasion of the group show Le dessin collectionné, Abdelkader Benchamma exhibits his work Engramme until May 16, 2023.

Abdelkader Benchamma
INSTALLATION – BIENNALE ARCIPELAGO MEDETERRANEO

Church of SS. Eunio e Giulano - Palermo 
From October 22 to November 27, 2022

As part of the Sete-Palermo Festival, Abdelkader Benchamma’s solo exhibition Cosma will open on October 22, 2022, with the support of Palazzo Butera and the French Institute of Palermo. This exhibition curated by Federica Fruttero gathers works produced during the artistic residency of the artist in the Palazzo Butera in June 2022.

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