Malika Riadi Schulz was born in Casablanca, Morocco, and spent her formative years in Europe; completing her schooling between Paris and London. She holds an MBA in International Business and is fluent in four languages (French, English, Arabic and Spanish).

For over 15 years Malika played a key role holding senior positions at startups such King Digital (Candy Crush) and corporates like EA and Meta. During this time she established an international network of creative business leaders, with strong ties in the publishing and broadcast media from EMEA to North America, and Latin America to Asia.

A passionate collector and philanthropist, Malika began intuitively pairing works from established artists like Amouzou, Jesse Sky and Mahi Binebine, with lesser known – or yet to be discovered – artists. Following this, she saw an opportunity to use her digital skillset and shine a light on artists working outside established art market capitals, in particular North and West Africa.

“On a trip to Togo, I had the opportunity to visit a number of studios. Seeing so much talent there, just waiting to be shown, I knew I had to do something. I could use my strategic and commercial expertise not only to build a business, but to do better for those who are otherwise disenfranchised. Naturally, there was a connection to The Continent where I was born, but I also understood there was a need to platform talent that was being overlooked.”

Malika has since emerged as a key figure and influencer in promoting young Contemporary African artists, and in 2022 decided to establish MRS Art. Showcasing work that skilfully combines elements of traditional culture or indigenous materials (wood, bark, stone) with a contemporaneous awareness, artists like Kukoff and Rachid allow us to reimagine cultural borders. Incorporating their experience of daily life on The Continent, many of these artists evoke powerful depictions of an otherwise unseen political or social landscape. MRS Art has since expanded their remit, platforming fresh talent across West Africa, the Middle East and the United States, launching a host of recent discoveries onto the global stage.

Malika’s ongoing commitment to offering her platform as a bridge for new perspectives, is empowering artists worldwide, developing the conversation beyond borders whilst enhancing visibility. “It takes such dedication to be an artist when you live in a region that does not have an art market. I wanted to create a platform that was both culturally sensitive and internationally relatable, and try to make a difference.”