Revolutionary art in independent Morocco

In 1956, Morocco gained independence from France. This had an enormous social impact, which was also reflected in art. In the 1960s, the Casablanca Art School shaped Morocco's artistic avant-garde. It has been described as a kind of Berber Bauhaus: Traditional Berber art, a collective term for various indigenous ethnic groups in North Africa, mixed with European and American art movements. The school's goal was to unite art, design, and architecture to help shape the new identity of the independent people. From May 27, 2023 to January 14, 2024, Tate St. Ives will present the Casablanca Art School in an exhibition. Numerous paintings, sculptures and ceramics, together with rare archival photographs, will illustrate this extraordinary period.

In the 1970s it became clear that the Casablanca Art School had indeed achieved its goal and continued to grow in influence; other Arab countries looked to the school for inspiration. The art industry grew and was enriched by new events such as the Baghdad Arab Art Biennial, first held in 1974. Among the best-known artists from the Casablanca Art School are Farid Belkahia, Mohamed Melehi, Mohamed Chabâa, and the art collector Bert Flint, who also taught at the school.