Mohammed Ben Allal exhibition opens at Jamaâ El-Fna Museum in Marrakech

The exhibition «Mohammed Ben Allal: Everyday Stories» was inaugurated on Sunday at the Jamaâ El-Fna Museum of Intangible Heritage in Marrakech. The event drew a diverse crowd, including notable Moroccan and international figures, as well as numerous art lovers and experts.

Organized by the National Foundation of Museums (FNM) in collaboration with the Bank Al-Maghrib Museum and the Al Maaden Museum of Contemporary African Art (MACAAL), this exhibition will be open to the public until May 25, 2026. It showcases the work of Mohammed Ben Allal, a self-taught painter from Marrakech, whose art captures the essence of the city's vibrant cultural memory.

Mohammed Ben Allal, born in 1928 in Marrakech, began his artistic journey at the age of 16. Although he passed away in 1995, his paintings continue to be celebrated and are part of numerous private collections in Morocco, France, and the United States.

Aligned with the museum's mission, the exhibition delves into the interplay between artistic expression and heritage, presenting Ben Allal's work as a poignant archive and visual testimony. His art documents the social practices and forms of interaction that have enriched Marrakech's urban history.

In a statement to MAP, FNM President Mehdi Qotbi highlighted that this exhibition exemplifies how art serves as a living memory and a means of cultural transmission.

Jack Lang, former French Minister of Culture and President of the Arab World Institute (IMA), praised the expressive power and originality of Ben Allal's art, noting how it «captures the essence of popular life and transforms it into a universal narrative».

Indeed, Ben Allal's work draws on everyday life, depicting social and family rituals, the bustling atmosphere of souks, lively festivals, artisanal crafts, and, most prominently, the Jamaâ El-Fna square, a hub of storytelling, cultural exchange, and living heritage.