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Mustapha Taaba is a contemporary Algerian painter whose work explores symbolic relationships between water, desert landscapes and the poetic philosophy of El Hawa. Through the artistic concept of TAABAART, his paintings reflect themes of memory, nature and spiritual connection. His work has been presented internationally and received recognition at the Venice Biennale.
Mustapha Taaba's artistic practice is deeply rooted in an inner quest, where spirituality plays a central role. With every painting, he explores the invisible links between memory, earth, and imagination. He paints as one might pray — with calm discipline and full surrender to the creative breath. His work is a bridge between matter and memory, between the sands of the Sahara and the intensity of color.
One major foundation of his work lies in portraying men and women from his cultural heritage. Through traditional garments, human values, and symbolic everyday details, he celebrates the identity of Algeria and its timeless dignity. These faces, silhouettes, and silent gazes seem to emerge from the past to question the present.
The second structure of his work is based on a deeply symbolic concept he calls El Hawa — an Arabic word meaning both air and love. This vision unfolds through the three atoms of water, symbolized by the colors white, blue, and ochre yellow. Air, water, light, desert, and spirituality converge in a visual poetry that is both universal and intimate. This triad recurs frequently in his works: three silhouettes, three lines, three colors.
For Mustapha, art is a true form of therapy. The creative process is more important than the final result. He paints instinctively, cutting color with a knife in a gesture akin to dance or meditation. He works without sketches or outlines, letting the acrylic paint speak freely in a trance-like discipline that liberates as much as it builds.
He has exhibited in Algeria, Italy, Tunisia, Canada, and France, both nationally and internationally.
In 2023, he completed his first artist residency at the prestigious Villa Abdellatif in Algiers, in collaboration with the AARC. This was followed by a second residency in Saint-Jean-du-Gard, France, titled L’Or Bleu, in collaboration with the association Marcel et Mohamed. In 2025, he joined a new artistic residency in Montpellier, organized by CIHEAM Montpellier ( The International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies ) in partnership with Carrière d’artiste and the agricultural high school Frédéric Basile, focusing on food security in the Mediterranean.
He has received numerous international distinctions, including the Lion Prize at the Venice Biennale in 2017, the Creativity Award at the International Contemporary Art Competition in Salerno, and the Special Jury Critic’s Award at the Biennale of Cava de’ Tirreni. In 2020, one of his works was selected in the Algerian national art competition dedicated to the Covid-19 pandemic, marking a major recognition of his singular path.
Today, Mustapha continues his journey with both discipline and humanity, faithful to a vision of art as a liberating act, a living memory, and an essential breath.
SELECTED ARTISTIC PROJECTS & RESIDENCIES
• Dec 2025 – Mar 2026 | "Earth, Water and Agrobiodiversity" (El Argoub, ALGERIA🇩🇿)
Project Director & Lead Artist. A community-based initiative translating agricultural
research into visual arts and youth workshops in Laghouat.
• 2025 | CIHEAM Montpellier (France 🇫🇷) Art & Agriculture Residency. Research-based
residency focused on food security and agrobiodiversity in the Mediterranean.
• 2023 – 2024 | "L’Or Bleu" / Blue Gold (Saint-Jean-du-Gard, France 🇫🇷)
Artist-in-Residence & Solo Exhibitor. Exploration of water scarcity and the symbolic
bridge between the Sahara and the Cévennes mountains (Assoc. Marcel & Mohamed).
• 2023 | Villa Abdellatif (Algiers, ALGERIA🇩🇿) National Excellence Residency.
Prestigious residency awarded by the AARC.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
October 2025 – Group Exhibition - Laghouat, Algeria 🇩🇿
June 2025 – Solo Exhibition. My Sahara ‘Saint-Jean-du-Gard.France 🇫🇷
July 2024 – lor bleu’ Art Exhibition.Saint-Jean-du-Gard.France 🇫🇷
April 2024 – Solo Exhibition. consulate of Algieria . Montpellier .France 🇫🇷
January 2024 – Group Exhibition. Algérien Cultural centre. PARIS.France 🇫🇷
July 2023 – Group Exhibition - Villa Abdelatif . Algiers. ALGERIA🇩🇿
December 2022 – Tozeur International Art Festival – TUNISIA 🇹🇳
June 2023 – Duo Exhibition - CCU . Algiers. ALGERIA🇩🇿
July 2022 – Duo Exhibition - Orbit Co-working. Algiers. ALGERIA🇩🇿
June 2022 – Solo Exhibition “the trip” Garden city centre. Algiers. ALGERIA🇩🇿
May 2022 – Solo Exhibition “Oxygen” Laghouat - ALGERIA🇩🇿
December 2021 – Group Exhibition “African Monodrama” Laghouat - ALGERIA🇩🇿
June 2021 – Solo Exhibition “the unconscious” Laghouat - ALGERIA🇩🇿
Junne 2020 – Group Exhibition Cimitile "Policentrismo Dell'Arte" Naples – ITALY 🇮🇹
December 2019 – Group Exhibition - Tozeur International Art Festival – TUNISIA 🇹🇳
June 2019 - Group Exhibition "Policentrismo Dell'Arte" Cimitile, Naples – ITALY🇮🇹
December 2018 - International contemporary art Group Exhibition salerno –ITALY 🇮🇹
December 2018 – Tozeur International Art Festival – TUNISIA 🇹🇳
June 2018 – 1st Biennale del Terrino "Cava De Terrini" – ITALY 🇮🇹
December 2017 - Exhibition of contemporary art "Cava De Terrini" – ITALY 🇮🇹
December 2017 - International Art Exhibition Tozeur – TUNISIA 🇹🇳
November 2017 - State Tarot International Art Group Exhibition -Toronto -Canada 🇨🇦
October 2017- 57th Venice Biennale "Viva Art Venezia" - ITALY 🇮🇹
June 2017 - International exhibition of contemporary art salerno – Italy 🇮🇹
December 2016 – International Group Art Exhibition Tozeur - Tunisia 🇹🇳
October 2016 –Group Exhibition. Moufdi Zakaria .Algiers. ALGERIA 🇩🇿
June 2016 – International Exhibition of Contemporary arte salerno – ITALY 🇮🇹
June 2016 –Group Exhibition.Takhi Abdallah Ben Keriou. Laghouat. ALGERIA 🇩🇿
November 2012 – Group Exhibition at the United States Embassy. Algiers.ALGERIA 🇩🇿
February 2012 - Group Exhibition , Pins-Maritimes-Algiers.ALGERIA 🇩🇿
AWARDS
•Top 10 "best illustration" health employees vs Covid-Ministry of Culture. 2020 ALG 🇩🇿
•Special critical prize "Biennale del Terrino" 2018 - Cava De Terrini – ITALY🇮🇹
•The winged lion of Venice "Viva Arte Venezia"2017 - Venice - ITALY🇮🇹
•Prize for creativity "Art Salerno 2017"– Salerno - ITALY🇮🇹
TECHNICAL SKILLS
• Media: Mixed media (sand, organic materials, acrylic), palette knife, wood and paper
supports.
• Expertise: Art-Science mediation, environmental advocacy, and community cultural
management.
• Languages: Arabic (Native), French (Fluent), English (Professional)
©️ Mustapha Taaba 2026 | contemporary Algerian artist #taabaart #ContemporaryArt #ModernArt #ArtWithoutBorders #GlobalArtMovement
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