Bio_
Amine Asselman (1989).
From a very young age I was interested in physics and mathematics, that is why in 2007 I enrolled at the Rabat School of Architecture. After two years of studying, I discovered that my true passion is art and design, which led me to leave the academy and move to Tetouan to study Design at the National Institute of Fine Arts.
After graduating in 2013, I continued my studies by pursuing a Master’s Degree in Contemporary Art at the Faculty of Fine Arts of Pontevedra at the University of Vigo. It is there where I discovered the work of authors such as M.C Escher, Antoni Gaudí or Sol Lewitt, who strongly influenced my artistic vision, finding that point in common between my two passions: science and art.
It’s the geometry, that art so present in my native culture, which pushed me to continue, from 2015 to 2019 at the same University, developing my research work on Zellige and Contemporary Creation between Spain and Morocco.
During these years of training I developed my artistic career by participating in national and international exhibitions, winning different awards and grants.
I currently live in Tetouan, where I set up my Ceramic Art and Zellige production workshop.
Statement_
My interest in the Zellige and geometry is reflected in most of my works where design, art, and crafts intermingle to express concerns closely linked to the complexity of the islamic identity and Mediterranean culture.
During my PhD research on Zellige and contemporary creation I have developed a method to generate an infinite number of geometric figures based on the same frequency. I apply all this geometric game to Zellige to transform spaces and architectural elements. I also developed a geometrical language called MUSAIC to translate the musical notes, scales and scores into Zellige compositions.
I work with the Tetouan Zellige technique, which is a unique artisan technique in Morocco and which is classified by UNESCO as a technique threatened by its disappearance. One of the objectives of my work is to preserve and evolve this technique, thus avoiding its disappearance. I have also managed to rescue old enamel formulas based on minerals and oxides to generate a palette of unique colors and textures with great depth and shine.
CV_
ACADEMIC EDUCATION
2015 – 2019: PhD (Cum Laude) in Contemporary Art, Faculty of Fine Arts of Pontevedra, University of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain.
2014 – 2015: Master of Contemporary Art. Creation and Research, Faculty of Fine Arts of Pontevedra, University of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain.
2009 – 2013: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Design Section, National Institute of Fine Arts, Tetouan, Morocco.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2026
– Escher & Islamic Art: 20 Perspectives, Museum Escher in het Paleis, Den Haag
– MCC Gallery, 1-54 Art Fair, Marrakech, Morocco
2025
– Destinations by Bottega Veneta, NOMAD, Abu Dhabi, UAE
– GAP OF POSSIBILITIES, MCC Gallery, Marrakech (solo show)
– MCC Gallery, Africa Basel, Basel, Switzerland
– CDA Gallery, DADA, 1-54 Art Fair, Marrakech
– Ligne(s) du Désir, IZZA, 1-54 Art Fair, Marrakech
– Adaptability, SAMoCA, Ryadh, Saudi Arabia
2024
– Arab Design Now, Doha Design Biennial, M7, Doha, Qatar
– Crafting Design Futures, Museum of Islamic Art,Doha, Qatar
2023
– Du Zellige à l’infini, Espace Rivages, Fondation Hassan II, Rabat (solo show)
– Maison de l’Artisan, Salone del Mobile, Milan, Italy
– Art & Craft Aujourd’hui, Bratislava Design Week, Bratislava, Slovakia
2022
– Sons Improbabeis, Auditorio de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
– STEREOTRIP Maroc, Stereolux, Nantes, France
2021
– Novos Valores 2019/20, Culturgal, Pontevedra, Spain
– Une scène artistique actuelle, Musée Mohammed VI d’Art Contemporain, Rabat
2019
– Vínculos abiertos, Casa Árabe Madrid, Spain
– Young Moroccan Artists, KFW Deg Bank, Cologne, Germany
2018
– Global Complexity, Zona «C», Santiago de Compostela, Spain (solo show)
– SCULTO Feria de Escultura, Logroño-La Rioja, Spain
– Identitas(Lab), Art Mustang Gallery, Elche, Alicante, Spain
2017
– Fabrica de Identidades, Museo de Pontevedra, Pontevedra, Spain
– Bajo el efecto borde, Sant Andreu Contemporani, Barcelona, Spain
2016
– Con/Sin Visado, Cuarto Publico, NH Collection Hotel, Santiago de Compostela
– SAIDA Gallery, Estampa 2016, Matadero Madrid
2015
– ESO SIGUE SU CURSO, Sala X and Fundación RAC, Pontevedra, Spain
– Sin Fronteras, Alliance Française of Madrid, PHOTOESPAÑA 2015, Madrid
RECIDENCIES
– Crafting Design Futures, Years of Culture Morocco-Qatar,Doha, Qatar 2024
– LAB Digital Maroc, Stereolux, Nantes, France 2022
– Jardin Rouge, Montresso Art Foundation, Marrakech, Morocco 2021
– III Encontro de Artistas Novos, Ciudad de la Cultura, Santiago de Compostela, Spain 2013
PRIZES, GRANTS & CONTESTS
– Finalist at the Design Doha Prize, Design Doha Biennial, Doha, Qatar 2023
– Winner of the Fine Arts Award, Ministry of Culture, Morocco 2022
– Winner of the Novos Valores Award, Pontevedra Museum, Spain 2019
– Winner of the “Zone C” Production Grant, Santiago de Compostela 2017
– Winner of the "Council of Santiago" Prize, Cuarto Publico Feria de Arte Contemporaneo, Santiago de Compostela 2016
OTHER PROJECTS
– Invited Artist Grant, International Glass Art Symposium, RONA, Lednické Rovne, Slovakia 2026
– Research Fellow / Guest Artist, European Union Program "Arts & Crafts Aujourd’hui" — Partner Institutions Consortium: Esadse (Saint-Étienne), Arba-Esa (Brussels), AFAD (Bratislava), UQAM (Montreal), FBAUP (Porto), and INBA (Tétouan) (2021–2024)
– Design Mentor, Summer School on the Art of Zellige, Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship «Homo Faber» in partnership with INBA and the Tétouan School of Arts and Crafts (2022)
Amine Asselman 