Amina Benbouchta is a Moroccan artist, working and living in Casablanca, Morocco and Paris, France. Born in 1963.
For several years, Amina Benbouchta has developed a body of work that is rooted in the exploration of the limits of painting, transforming concepts and observations into picture, sculpture and installation. The diversity of mediums she explores, allows a full analyzation of the complex social structure of contemporary life.
Benbouchta was born in Casablanca (Morocco) in 1963, and lives and works between Paris and Casablanca. After graduating in 1986 in Anthropology and Middle Eastern Studies at McGill University, Montreal, she attended various workshops of drawing, lithography and etching in Paris. She was also an auditor at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts de Paris from 1988 to 1990. Her artistic-cultural concerns led her to run the fashion & culture magazine "Les Alignés”, during the 90’s. In 2005, she co-founded the Collectif 212, an organization dedicated to defending the emergence of a new phase of contemporary art in Morocco.
Her latest exhibitions include her last solo show at the gallery titled Are Angel Trumpets Poisonous?, her participation to the First edition of the Rabat Biennal (Morocco), the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, (Netherlands), the acclaimed international exhibition Have You Seen A Horizon Lately? , curated by Mari Ann Yemsi at the MACAAL (Marrakech, Morocco), or Línies Vermelles - La Censura en la Col·lecció Tatxo Benet. Centre d’Art La Panera (Lleidá, Spain).
Since 1986, her work has been presented in Morocco and abroad in numerous institutions and contemporary art events, including The Cairo Biennial (1993), The French Institute of Casablanca (1995), The National Museum of Women and the Arts - Washington DC USA (1997), Kerava Museum - Finland (2003), The Museum of Marrakech (2004), The Casa Arabe Madrid (2008, 2013 and 2017), The Biennial of Alexandria (2009). In 2014, she participated in the inaugural exhibition of the Contemporary art center of Vienna and that same year her work was part of the inaugural exhibition of the Museum of Mohamed VI of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat.
AMINA’S STATEMENT
«I prefer to devote myself to a work that asks questions of the future of the human being, in a universal way, without constantly bringing back the debate to the details of origin or identity.»
Amina Benbouchta
Through a wide range of practice that evolves harmoniously between painting, photography, works on paper, sculpture, installation and video, Amina Benbouchta leads an anthropological reflection, which explores in a singular way, the existing dialogue between environment, objects of the everyday life and the human figure, while highlighting this poetry of chance that often emanates from their meeting.
She invents a symbolic language, from both personal concerns and socio-cultural issues: making visible what escapes the visible. Her work is not composed of a separate series. Alternatively, each new image is added, and completes the set which pre-exists. Her research draws from an intrinsic universe, absorbing elements that evoke atmospheres related to the already existing work.
Beyond the poetic and metaphorical readings that her works inspire, there is a relevant political dimension in her creations. Each realized work corresponds to a new way of understanding the existing challenges of living as a contemporary woman in the public and private space. She questions how to position oneself in this structured, male-dominant society.
Education
1986
Anthropology and Middle Eastern Studies at McGill University. Montreal, Canada.

Solo shows
2023
Le corps spirituel et l'esprit charnel. Palais El Badii. Marrakech, Morocco.
2023
One pound of flesh. Ceysson & Bénétière. Lyon, France.
2022
Are Angel Trumpets Poisonous?. Sabrina Amrani. Madrid, Spain.
2022
Chambre Centrale, Coulée Rouge. Oh Gallery. Dakar, Senegal.
2019
On the edge. Galerie Dar El Bacha. Marrakesh, Morocco.
2017
Interstices. Galerie de l’Institut français de Rabat. Rabat, Morocco.
2016
Traversées. Dar El Kitab. Casablanca, Morocco.
2015
(M)eta(M)orphosis. Sabrina Amrani Gallery. Madrid, Spain.
2015
Femmes au pluriel, with the collaboration of artist J. Dorléac. Salon International de Tanger des livres et des arts. Tanger, Morocco.
2014
Tout ce qui brille. Matisse Art Gallery. Marrakech, Morocco.
2013
Galerie Granville. Paris, France.
2013
Down the rabbit hole. Sabrina Amrani Gallery. Madrid, Spain.
2012
Matisse Art Gallery. Marrakech, Morocco.
2012
Galerie Talmart. Paris, France.
2011
Galerie Artae. Lyon, France.
2011
De l'autre coté du miroir. Espace Le Cube. Rabat, Morocco.
2010
Villa Matisse Art Contemporain. Marrakech, Morocco.
2010
Espace Le Cube. Rabat, Morocco.
2009
Matisse Art Gallery. Casablanca, Morocco.
2009
La source du Lion. Casablanca, Morocco.
2008
Galerie Ré. Marrakech, Morocco.
2008
Galerie Souffle. Casablanca, Morocco.
2006
Amina Benbouchta. Le Cube. Rabat, Morocco.
2004
Foundouk Bachko. Saâd Hassani. Casablanca, Morocco.
1997
Espace ‘’9’’. Casablanca, Morocco.
1996
Galerie El Manar. Casablanca, Morocco.
1995
IFC French Cultural Institute. Casablanca, Morocco.
1994
Galerie Winance-Sabbe. Brussels, Belgium.
1992
Galerie El Manar. Casablanca, Morocco.
1991
Galerie Arcanes. Rabat, Morocco.
Group shows
2022
Femmes photographes. Musée National de la Photographie. Rabat, Morocco.
2022
Dreaming a dream. Matisse Art Gallery. Marrakech, Morocco.
2021
BUM BUM BA YE [Under Pressure].Sabrina Amrani. Madrid, Spain.
2020
Línies Vermelles. La Censura en la Col·lecció Tatxo Benet. Centre d’Art La Panera, Lleida, Spain. Curated by Cèlia del Diego and Benito Padilla.
2020
Ver Versus VerII. Sabrina Amrani Gallery. Madrid, Spain.
2020
Ver Versus Ver. Sabrina Amrani Gallery. Madrid, Spain.
2020
United Artists. Mövenpick Hotel Mansour Eddahbi. Marrakech, Morocco.
2020
Alter Ego Uprisings. 47 Dar el Bacha Gallery. Marrakech, Morocco.
2020
Have You Seen A Horizon Lately?The Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL). Marrakech, Morocco.
2019
Serendipity. Villa Delaporte. Casablanca, Morocco.
2019
Modest Fashion. Stedelijk Museum Schiedam. Schiedam, The Netherlands.
2019
Un instant avant le monde. First edition of Rabat Biennal. Rabat, Morocco.
2019
Grands Formats dans la collection Arrijariwafa bank, 1980-2000. Actua Foundation. Casablanca, Morocco.
2019
Lend me your name. Kent Gallery. Tanger,
2019
Vingt ans, une oeuvre. L’Atelier 21 Gallery. Casablanca, Morocco.
2019
Rabat Biennale. Rabat, Morocco.
2019
Les marocaines: du regard de l’autre au regard sur soi. Maison de la Photographie. Lille, France.
2019
Tribe: Contemporary Photography from the Arab World. Katzen Arts Center, American University Museum. Washington D.C., USA.
2018
Oh se batter rend heureux meme si la défaite est total. Metamorphik Gallery. Lyon, France.
2018
Photographies. Villa Balthazar. Valence, France.
2018
Waste lands. Casa Arabe. Cordoba, Spain.
2018
Figures/le syndrome de SAUL (suis-je chasseur ou chassé?). Villa Balthazar. Valence, France.
2017
Waste lands. Casa Arabe. Madrid, Spain.
2017
Le monde et le reste. Galerie Bernard Ceysson. Paris, France. (Curated by Bernard Collet).
2017
Waste lands. Museo San Telmo. San Sebastián, Spain.
2017
Spent. Kulte Gallery. Rabat, Morocco.
2017
Des nuages et des forms. Galerie Delaporte. Casablanca, Morocco.
2017
Le monde et le reste. Galerie Bernard Ceysson. Paris, France.
2016
Feminart II. Espacio Turina. Sevilla, Spain.
2016
Des nuages et des formes.Villa Dela porte. Casablanca, Morocco.
2016
Waste Lands. Es Baluard. Mallorca, Spain.
2016
EastWing Biennial. The Courtauld Institute of Art. London, UK.
2016
I love you. VideoInsight Foundation. Torino, Italy.
2015
Traces of the Future. Marrakech Museum for Photography an Visual Arts. Marrakech, Morocco.
2015
Intercession. Galeria Delacrois. Tanger, Morocco.
2014
The luxury of dirt. Voice Gallery. Marrakech, Morocco.
2014
Regards Orientalistes. Hôtel Selmane. Marrakech, Morocco.
2014
La forme animale. Venise Cadre Galerie. Casablanca, Morocco.
2014
1914 - : Cent and de crétion. Curated by M. Rachdi. Musée Mohamed VI d’Art Moderne et Contemporain/MMVI. Rabat, Morocco.
2014
Préfiguration.Centre d’art contemporain Halle des Bouchers. Vienne, France.
2014
Please rewind!. Sabrina Amrani Gallery. Madrid, Spain.
2013
Mil caras. Instituto Cervantes. Centre d’art de Tétouan. Tétouan, Morocco.
2013
The World Is Not As I See It. Musée Slaoui. Casablanca, Morocco.
2013
Mil caras. Musée Slaoui. Casablanca, Morocco.
2012
The World Is Not As I See It. Galerie Dominique Fiat. Paris, France.
2012
Cuerpos.Sabrina Amrani Gallery. Madrid, Spain.
2012
Art/code/21_siècle – Institut Français de Tanger. Tanger, Morocco.
2011
Le Deuxième Regard. Institut Français de Rabat et Espace de la CDG. Rabat, Morocco.
2009
25th Alexandria Biennale for Mediterranean Countries. Alexandria, Egypt.
2009
Figures du corps.SG Bank. Casablanca, Morocco.
2009
Efemmeras.Instituto Cervantes. Tanger, Morocco.
2009
Connexions.Bergerac Museum. Bergerac, France.
2009
Passerelle VII. Villa des Arts ONA Fondation. Casablanca, Morocco.
2008
Matisse Art Gallery. Marrakech, Morocco.
2008
Arte Contemporaneo en Marruecos. Casa Árabe. Madrid, Spain.
2008
Les 15. Galerie Ré. Marrakech, Morocco.
2008
Estiu art . Castel de Denia. Denia, Spain.
2008
Exposition du Collectif 212. Le Cube. Rabat, Morocco.
2008
Visual Art and New Medias Festival. Casablanca, Morocco.
2008
Art Galleries Night. Le cube. Rabat, Morocco.
2007
Women and art in Morocco. Fundación Colegio del Rey. Madrid, Spain.
2006
Genap 2005, Sacré Cœur Cathedral. Casablanca, Morocco.
2005
Collectif 212 ’30 par 30’. Le cube. Rabat, Morocco.
2005
L'inspiration en partage. Le cube. Rabat, Morocco.
2004
Maroc-France. expériences croisées, Marrakech Art Museum. Marrakech, Morocco.
2004
Visions actuelles. Al Akhawayn University. Ifrane, Morocco.
2004
Transparency. Maroc/CDG. Rabat, Morocco.
2004
Traits Gravures - Bahnini. Ministry of Culture. Rabat, Morocco.
2004
Parcours d'artistes. Rabat, Morocco.
2003
Moroccan painters. Lycée Descartes. Rabat, Morocco.
2003
Moroccan artists. Kerava Museum. Kerava, Finland.
2003
Looking for our secret Atlas. Actua. Casablanca, Morocco.
2002
Painters from our times. El Manar Gallery. Casablanca, Morocco.
2001
Women artists in Morocco. Bab El Kebir. Rabat, Morocco.
2001
Moroccan painters. Les Ateliers d’Arts Plastiques. Lille, France
2001
Moroccan contemporary art. Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
2001
Moroccan contemporary art. Barcelona, Spain.
2001
Moroccan contemporary art. Valencia, Spain.
1999
Gardens of stone. El Manar Gallery. Casablanca, Morocco.
1997
Présences plastiques. Rabat Hospital. Rabat, Morocco.
1997
Three Moroccan painters. National Museum of Women and the Arts. Washington D.C., USA.
1997
Exposition pour l'Algérie. Galerie Nikki Diana Marquart. Paris, France.
1995
Casablanca, fragments d'imaginaire. IFC French Cultural Institute. Casablanca, Morocco.
1995
Damasco Gallery. Edimburgh, UK.
1994
Moroccan Exhibition. Disney Hall. Orlando, Florida, USA.
1993
Cairo Art Biennal. Cairo, Egypt. (2nd price of the Biennal)
Art fairs
2022
1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair. Sabrina Amrani. Paris, France.
2022
ARCOmadrid. Sabrina Amrani. Madrid, Spain.
2016
1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair London. London, UK.
2015
Artissima. Sabrina Amrani Gallery. Turin, Italia.
2015
1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair . Sabrina Amrani Gallery. London, UK.
2014
Artissima. Sabrina Amrani Gallery. Turin, Italy.
2014
1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair . Sabrina Amrani Gallery. London, UK.
2014
Art Dubai. Sabrina Amrani Gallery. Dubai, UAE.
2013
Tokyo Photo. Sabrina Amrani Gallery. Tokyo, Japan.
2013
Unseen Photo Fair. Sabrina Amrani Gallery. Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
2012
Beirut Art Fair. Sabrina Amrani Gallery. Beirut, Lebanon.
2011
Docks Art Fair (solo). Lyon, France.
2011
Marrakech Art Fair (solo). Marrakech, Morocco.
2010
Brussels Art Fair. Brussels, Belgium.
2008
Marrakech Art Fair. Marrakech, Morocco.
Residencies
2008
Castel de Denia. Denia, Spain.
2004
Musée de Marrakech/Maroc-France, expériences croisées. Marrakech, Morocco.
1997
Hôpital des enfants malades. Rabat, Morocco.
Public collections
Col·lecció Tatxo Benet. Spain
OCP Group Foundation. Morocco.
Alliance Foundation. Morocco.
CDG Fondation. Morocco.
ONA Fondation. Morocco.
BCM Bank. Morocco.
AttijariwafaBank Morocco.
Ministère de la Culture. Morocco.
Maroc Telecom Collection. Morocco.
SGMB Bank Collection. Morocco.
Ministère des Finances. Morocco.
Fondation Caisse de Dêpôt et de Gestion. Morocco.
Collection Royal Mansour. Morocco.
Videoinsight® Foundation. Italy.
Bibliography
2018
Lumières marocaines. Langages du sud: Casablanca, Morocco.
2018
Casablanca, nid d’artistes. Malika Editions: Casablanca, Morocco
2017
Feminismo, exilios, narrativas. Desafios, San Telmo Museo: San Sebastian, Spain.
2017
Le memoriel, l’affect et l’imaginaire. K’A Editions: Ille-sur-Têt, France.
2015
Eclore et se dévoiler. C. Coussonnet, Diptyk Magazine#31: Casablanca, Morocco.
2017
Amina Benbouchta. by C. Benoiste. Madame Magazine: United Arab Emirates.
2014
Amina Benbouchta, by Najib Abdelhak, Aujourd’hui le Maroc, Mai .
2013
Tapis pour L’Automne, Illustrated art book by Michel Butor, with an original text by Amina Benbouchta. Edition of 10. Raretés des Sept Collines. Collection. Jean Pierre Huguet Editions.
2013
Le Dilemme des Utérriens, Illustrated art book by Driss Ksikes, with an original text by Amina Benbouchta, Edition of 10. Raretés des Sept Collines Collection. Jean Pierre Huguet Editions.
2012
Le Poème des Poèmes, Ilustrated art book by Amina Benbouchta. Edition of 10. Jean Pierre Huguet Editions. Traduction by Louis Segond.
2009
Arte inVisible, Book about the 4th edition of the project Arte inVisible, ARCO .
2009
Amina Benbouchta, La surface et le coeur, Monograph by Bernard Collet. Traduction Rachel Stella. Jean Pierre Huguet Editions.
2009
40 Moroccan artists in pictures, by Leila Alaoui. CGEM Fond.
2008
Arte contemporáneo en Marruecos. Casa Árabe.
2007
Conversations marocaines, by Katrin Ströbel. Katrin Ströbel Pubishing House.
2005
Art contemporain au Maroc. ONA Fondation Collection Maroc.
2005
30 ans de mécénat, by Farid Zahi and Brahim Alaoui. BCM Editions
2005
Les tendances de la peinture marocaine contemporaine, by Moulim El Aroussi – PM Editions.
2005
Figures du Maroc, by Gérard Rondeau. EDDIF Editions.
2005
Maroc Dessin, writings and reflexions. El Manar Editions.
1997
Figures du Maroc, by Gérard Rondeau and A.Rétnani. Editions EDDIF.
1996
L’oeil, Art Review n°481 – Paris – France.
1992
Dessins, writings and reflexions. Almanar Galerie d’art. Editions El Manar.