Mohamed Chabaa

Born in Tangier in 1935, Mohammed Chabâa studied at the schools of fine arts in Tetouan and later Rome, where he developed a practice at the crossroads of painting, design, graphic arts, and critical theory.

Upon his return to Morocco in 1966, he was appointed professor of graphic arts and decoration at the School of Fine Arts in Casablanca. Alongside Belkahia and Melehi, he participated in the school's reform, championing an artistic modernity rooted in popular arts and public space. He opened his design studio as early as 1968, producing furniture and interior design for companies such as Royal Air Maroc.

His work is characterized by rigorous geometric compositions, flat areas of color, and a constant reflection on the relationship between art, architecture, and society. Fully committed to the Présence Plastique movement, Chabâa took part in the manifesto-exhibitions organized in public spaces, most notably at Jemaa El Fna in Marrakech in 1969.

An influential theorist, teacher, and curator, he played an essential role in structuring the contemporary Moroccan art scene and in gaining international recognition for the Casablanca School.