Contemporary Art & Creative Scene

Behind the centuries-old facades of the medinas and the mud walls of the kasbahs lies a surprisingly vibrant contemporary art scene that has made Morocco one of the most exciting cultural destinations in Africa over the past two decades.

Marrakech has become the undisputed center of Moroccan contemporary art. The Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL) showcases rotating exhibitions of Moroccan and African artists in a spectacular modern building. The Fondation Jardin Majorelle (next to the famous garden) houses a museum for Berber culture and rotating art exhibitions. In the medina, galleries like Galerie 127 (photography) and the Maison de la Photographie (historical and contemporary photography of Morocco) have gained international recognition. The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, which has also been held in Marrakech since 2018, has put the city on the world map of the art market.

In Casablanca — the industrial metropolis — a lively street art scene has developed. The Habous district and the facades of the Art Deco buildings downtown are increasingly being designed by local and international street artists. The Villa des Arts and the Fondation ONA regularly showcase Moroccan contemporary art. Rabat's new Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is the first of its kind in Africa and features an impressive collection of Moroccan art from the 20th century to today.

What distinguishes Moroccan contemporary art is the tension between tradition and modernity: many artists work with traditional materials (zellige, carpet art, calligraphy) and transform them into contemporary forms of expression. Photographer Lalla Essaydi overlays women's bodies with Arabic calligraphy, artist Hassan Hajjaj ("Andy Warhol of Marrakech") combines pop art with Moroccan aesthetics, and the street art collectives of the big cities merge graffiti with Amazigh symbols and Islamic geometry. For culturally interested travelers, this scene is a fascinating complement to the historical heritage.