Nassim Azarzar (1989) is an artist who explores the semantics of shapes—how forms convey meaning—with a particular emphasis on diasporic experiences and vernacular aesthetics. His seminal research into the decorative practices of trucks transporting goods across Moroccan cities—vehicles whose layered ornamentation emerges from perpetual mobility—echoes his own sense of in-betweenness as someone born in France to Moroccan parents. This investigation became the basis of his emerging visual language, which spans painting, sculpture, graphic design, experimental cinema, poetry, and sound, embracing fluidity and challenging fixed notions of belonging.
Growing up in Épinay-sur-Seine, a Parisian suburb shaped by its African diaspora yet influenced by France’s assimilationist mindset, Azarzar experienced firsthand the tensions between multiple cultural spheres. Neither fully accepted in France nor entirely connected to Morocco, he turned to what he calls “aesthetic phenomena” in the streets—everyday forms that resist categorization—and reconfigured them in his work. This process highlights the importance of transformation, interconnection, and the creative potential of liminal spaces. As his practice evolved, he incorporated collaborative storytelling and soundscapes, expanding his exploration of displacement and belonging to broader diasporic contexts.
Before joining QANAT (a collective of artists and researchers delving into the political and poetic dimensions of water) in 2019, Azarzar co-founded and led multiple creative initiatives: Atelier Superplus (@atelier_superplus), established in 2014 between Paris, Bristol, and Tangier; Think Tanger (@thinktanger), launched in 2016 to examine Tangier’s urban and visual transformations; and Atelier Kissaria (@tanger.print.club) in 2017, focusing on experimental printing practices. Teaching graphic design in Morocco also played a pivotal role in his journey, as he encouraged students to view local streets as fertile ground for innovation and cultural expression.
In his ongoing practice, Azarzar strives to open new pathways for representing diasporic identities, rejecting static frames in favor of movement, exchange, and evolving narratives.
Born in 1989, he lives and works between Paris and Rabat.
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Growing up in Épinay-sur-Seine, a Parisian suburb shaped by its African diaspora yet influenced by France’s assimilationist mindset, Azarzar experienced firsthand the tensions between multiple cultural spheres. Neither fully accepted in France nor entirely connected to Morocco, he turned to what he calls “aesthetic phenomena” in the streets—everyday forms that resist categorization—and reconfigured them in his work. This process highlights the importance of transformation, interconnection, and the creative potential of liminal spaces. As his practice evolved, he incorporated collaborative storytelling and soundscapes, expanding his exploration of displacement and belonging to broader diasporic contexts.
Before joining QANAT (a collective of artists and researchers delving into the political and poetic dimensions of water) in 2019, Azarzar co-founded and led multiple creative initiatives: Atelier Superplus (@atelier_superplus), established in 2014 between Paris, Bristol, and Tangier; Think Tanger (@thinktanger), launched in 2016 to examine Tangier’s urban and visual transformations; and Atelier Kissaria (@tanger.print.club) in 2017, focusing on experimental printing practices. Teaching graphic design in Morocco also played a pivotal role in his journey, as he encouraged students to view local streets as fertile ground for innovation and cultural expression.
In his ongoing practice, Azarzar strives to open new pathways for representing diasporic identities, rejecting static frames in favor of movement, exchange, and evolving narratives.
Born in 1989, he lives and works between Paris and Rabat.
Nominations, awards and residencies:
2024 MORPHO (ANTWERP, BELGIUM)
2023 WARAQ (BEIRUT, LEBANON)
2023 PRO HELVETIA CAIRO (ZURICH, SWITZERLAND)
2023 DELFINA FONDATION (LONDON, ENGLAND)
2022 NAJM, LIEUX COMMUNS (MARSEILLE, FRANCE)
2021 L’APPARTEMENT 22 (RABAT, MOROCCO)
2021 FRENCH INSTITUTE (CASABLANCA, MOROCCO)
2020 ARAB FUND FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
2020 AFRICAN FUND FOR CULTURE
2019 HOUDOUD RESIDENCY (BERLIN & TETOUAN)
2023 DELFINA FONDATION (LONDON, ENGLAND)
2022 NAJM, LIEUX COMMUNS (MARSEILLE, FRANCE)
2021 L’APPARTEMENT 22 (RABAT, MOROCCO)
2021 FRENCH INSTITUTE (CASABLANCA, MOROCCO)
2020 ARAB FUND FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
2020 AFRICAN FUND FOR CULTURE
2019 HOUDOUD RESIDENCY (BERLIN & TETOUAN)
Selected exhibitions:
“Hayat al Noujoum/La Vie des Étoiles“, The Showroom
Annual mural comission, London, England
“The Edge of the Forest“, Biennale Gherdëina
Collective exhibition, Ortisei, Italy
“Ink”, Fotokino
Collective exhibition, Marseille, France
“H’dith o Mghezel“, Malhoun
Collective exhibition, Marrakech, Morocco
«School of Casablanca», fine art school of Casablanca
Collective exhibition, Casablanca, Morocco
«La promesse de l’empreinte», Malhoun art space
Collective exhibition, Marrakech, Morocco
«Xyzt», LoftArt Gallery
Collective exhibition, Casablanca, Morocco
«Appartemenet 22 (2002-2023)», Lot 219
Collective exhibition, Fès, Morocco
«Pièces détachées», L’appartement 22
Solo exhibition, Rabat, Morocco
«A Door to the Sky (Or a Plea for Rain)», Documenta 15
Collective exhibition, Kassel, Germany
«Love... Marrakech this city taught me color», Palacio de Cadaval
Collective exhibition, Evora, Portugal
«À l’Épreuve du Tamis», 1:54 African art fair I Le 18
Collective exhibition, Marrakech, Morocco
«Serendipity», Villa Delaportes
Collective exhibition, Casablanca, Morocco
«États d’Urgences d’Instants Poétiques», Jardins d’essais botaniques
Collective exhibition, Rabat, Morocco
«The Whole World a Bauhaus», ZKM Institut
Collective exhibition, Stuttgart, Germany
«Il n’y a plus rien à voir», Kulte Contemporary Art Center
Solo exhibition, Rabat, Morocco
«Espace Urbain Corps Social», French Institut gallery
Collective exhibition, Tangier, Morocco
«Worlds within worlds», EBC Contemporary Art
Collective exhibition, Bristol, England
“Hayat al Noujoum/La Vie des Étoiles“, The Showroom
Annual mural comission, London, England
“The Edge of the Forest“, Biennale Gherdëina
Collective exhibition, Ortisei, Italy
“Ink”, Fotokino
Collective exhibition, Marseille, France
“H’dith o Mghezel“, Malhoun
Collective exhibition, Marrakech, Morocco
«School of Casablanca», fine art school of Casablanca
Collective exhibition, Casablanca, Morocco
«La promesse de l’empreinte», Malhoun art space
Collective exhibition, Marrakech, Morocco
«Xyzt», LoftArt Gallery
Collective exhibition, Casablanca, Morocco
«Appartemenet 22 (2002-2023)», Lot 219
Collective exhibition, Fès, Morocco
«Pièces détachées», L’appartement 22
Solo exhibition, Rabat, Morocco
«A Door to the Sky (Or a Plea for Rain)», Documenta 15
Collective exhibition, Kassel, Germany
«Love... Marrakech this city taught me color», Palacio de Cadaval
Collective exhibition, Evora, Portugal
«À l’Épreuve du Tamis», 1:54 African art fair I Le 18
Collective exhibition, Marrakech, Morocco
«Serendipity», Villa Delaportes
Collective exhibition, Casablanca, Morocco
«États d’Urgences d’Instants Poétiques», Jardins d’essais botaniques
Collective exhibition, Rabat, Morocco
«The Whole World a Bauhaus», ZKM Institut
Collective exhibition, Stuttgart, Germany
«Il n’y a plus rien à voir», Kulte Contemporary Art Center
Solo exhibition, Rabat, Morocco
«Espace Urbain Corps Social», French Institut gallery
Collective exhibition, Tangier, Morocco
«Worlds within worlds», EBC Contemporary Art
Collective exhibition, Bristol, England