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

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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

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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

Le Parisien Étudiant - March 2026

Abdelkader Benchamma. Signs and Wonders

Arts in the City - March 2026

Exposition Signs and Wonders, d'Abdelkader Benchamma à la Galerie Templon

Connaissance des Arts - March 2026

Benchamma se lance dans la peinture

Marie Maertens

Les Échos Week-End - February 2026

Une pépinière artistique

Ludovic Bischoff & Alice d'Orgeval

Le Journal des Arts - March 2025

One Apocalypse trop ordonnée à la BNF

Grande Loge de France- February 2025

Apocalypse - Hier et demain

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News

Abdelkader Benchamma
Jim Dine
Jan Fabre
INAUGURATION DE LA FONDATION HELENIS GGL – GROUP SHOW

FONDATION HELENIS GGL, MONTPELLIER, FRANCE
Inauguration -  November 2020

For its inauguration, the Helenis GGL Foundation in Montpellier is hosting four personalities from the contemporary art world: Abdelkader Benchamma, Jim Dine, Jan Fabre and Marlène Mocquet. Each of the four artists will present an artwork for the event – which will open the season in what aims to become one of the city’s major cultural centres.

Abdelkader Benchamma
UN AUTRE MONDE///DANS NOTRE MONDE – GROUP SHOW

From September 19, 2020 to March 14, 2021
FRAC Grand Large — Hauts-de-France, 503 Avenue des Bancs de Flandres, 59140 Dunkerque

Abdelkader Benchamma takes part in the exhibition « UN AUTRE MONDE/// DANS NOTRE MONDE » held at the FRAC Nord-pas de Calais.The exhibition proposes to discover the fantastic realism, a major movement of the counterculture of the 1960s, through the works of contemporary artists who question the dominant knowledge and hybridize scientific and esoteric knowledge. Extravagant, hermetic, sensual, the works summon the survival of traditional, mythical or magical cultures. They invite to probe the altered states of consciousness, the limits of our sensory perceptions, the hidden codes of nature and the undecipherable laws that govern the cosmos.

Abdelkader Benchamma
FATA BROMOSA – SOLO SHOW

MUSÉE RÉGIONAL D'ART CONTEMPORAIN OCCITANIE /PYRÉNÉES - MÉDITERRANÉE, SÉRIGNAN, FRANCEDu 23 /11/2019 au 20/09/2020

For his first solo exhibition in a French museum, Abdelkader Benchamma invests three rooms at Mrac Occitanie with an immersive installation drawing inspiration from his residence at Villa Médicis in autumn 2018. In Rome, Abdelkader Benchamma is fascinated by the richness of church decorations, in particular by the representation of marbles in the works of the Renaissance painter Fra Angelico. The Old Master’s depictions render the illusion of precious stones by playing on symmetry of veins, thus creating spiritually charged abstract forms. The title of the exhibition, Fata Bromosa, (literally Fairy of the Mists) refers to that blurring of perception dear to Fra Angelico. The term indicates an optical phenomenon observed by navigators in the Middle Ages which gives the impression of a bright-rimmed fog perceptible on the horizon. To depict without representing seems to be the artist’s ambition: drawing become an emanation of nature, but of a different kind, intimate and unfathomable.

Abdelkader Benchamma
SYNCOPATION, CONTEMPORARY ENCOUNTERS WITH THE MODERN MASTERS MONET, CÉZANNE, PICASSO – GROUP SHOW

POLA MUSEUM OF ART, KANAGAWA, JAPONFrom 10/08/2019 to 01/12/2019

As our first full-fledged exhibition featuring contemporary art, Syncopation will present a wide range of works of art from the Pola Museum of Art collection, including paintings, sculptures, and Oriental ceramics, along with works by artists active on the front lines of contemporary expression. Here various works by contemporary artists, including installations filling entire rooms, sound art, video art, and a piece exhibited outdoors, are shedding new light on works by the modern masters, encouraging multifaceted interpretation.

Abdelkader Benchamma
SYMÉTRIES ET SOUPIRS – SITE-SPECIFIC INSTALLATION

ABBAYE DE LAGRASSE, LAGRASSE, FRANCE From 26/06/2019 to 01/09/2019

The Lagrasse Abbey, located in the Corbières massif in the Orbieu Valley, is considered one of the most important Benedictine settlements in the Aude region.For IN SITU Patrimoine et art contemporain, Abdelkader Benchamma has made a large mural of nearly 40 square meters facing the Renaissance fireplace of the ceremonial hall of the Abbey.

Abdelkader Benchamma
 « 100 ARTISTES DANS LA VILLE » – COSMA – PUBLIC ART COMMISSION

MONTPELLIER, FRANCE From 08/06/2019 to 28/07/2019

At the invitation of Nicolas Bourriaud, director of the MOCO Collection Hotel in Montpellier, Abdelkader Benchamma has created a permanent installation in the public space of the city as part of the “100 artists in the city” program. The Cosma installation is made from incrustations of marble slabs and is completed with paintings. The title refers to the art of marble mosaic pavements developed by the Cosmati between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries in Rome.

Abdelkader Benchamma
ELDORAMA, LILLE 3000 – GROUP SHOW

TRIPOSTAL, LILLE, FRANCEFrom 27/04/2019 to 01/10/2019

The Tripostal unfolds the great Eldorado story through a myriad of contemporary works of art borrowed from all over the world. In three chapters, corresponding to the three floors of the building: 1. The dreamed worlds, 2. The rush, 3. An endless Eldorado, the exhibition stages the universal adventure of all the eldorados who spur individuals and people to move
and relocate. Curators: Jérôme Sans, Jean-Max Colard, with the collaboration of Isabelle Bernini.

Abdelkader Benchamma
UN AUTRE MONDE///DANS NOTRE MONDE – GROUP SHOW

FRAC PACA, MARSEILLES, FRANCEFrom 23/03/2019 to 02/06/2019

UN AUTRE MONDE///DANS NOTRE MONDE is questioning our relationship with the real world through many sectors of creation and knowledge, on the frontiers of science, tradition, fantasy, sciencefiction and ultimately of the real. UN AUTRE MONDE///DANS NOTRE MONDE is a hybrid event between the itinerant collective exhibition, the symposium and the epistemological experimental laboratory.

Videos

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

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