Yamou
Abderrahim Yamou (b. 1959, Casablanca) is a Moroccan artist who lives and works between Paris and Tahanaout. Initially trained in biology and sociology at the University of Toulouse, he later pursued contemporary art at the Sorbonne, where he earned a DEA. In the late 1980s, he established his studio in the Paris suburbs, marking the start of his artistic journey. By 1990, Yamou fully committed to his art practice, and his works are now exhibited in prestigious international galleries and museums.
Nature is at the heart of Yamou’s artistic expression.His paintings resemble pictorial gardens, continuously evolving through botanical motifs and organic forms
From dense, leafy compositions to bare, minimalist spaces, his works capture the subtle strength and weightlessness of plant life. In 1997, Yamou began incorporating natural materials like sand and earth into his paintings, drawing inspiration from prehistoric Atlas Mountain cave paintings. These works often feature animal figures such as ibexes, rams, and gazelles, blending tradition with modern abstraction.
He describes plants as symbols of both continuity and change—dynamic, living entities that connect different elements.
During the 2000s, Yamou’s exploration became more microscopic, focusing on cellular structures and early life forms. His Germinations series delves into the unseen, revealing organic patterns and networks reminiscent of cellular growth. In his studio, which he likens to a laboratory, Yamou creates paintings that blur the line between figuration and abstraction, portraying what he calls the “ordinary miracle of life.”
In addition to painting, Yamou also creates sculptural works using everyday objects, tools, and utensils. These sculptures, often embedded with nails and featuring oxidized metal surfaces, convey themes of resilience and fragility, with small human silhouettes or live plants emerging from within.
Yamou’s work is part of several prestigious collections, including the ONA Foundation (Morocco), the Neuberger Museum of Art (USA), the World Bank (USA), the Ministère des Affaires Étrangères (France), and the Written Art Foundation (Germany).
Continuing to live and work between Paris and Tahanaout, Yamou remains dedicated to exploring the relationship between nature and form through painting and sculpture.
Abderrahim Yamou (b. 1959, Casablanca) is a Moroccan artist who lives and works between Paris and Tahanaout. Initially trained in biology and sociology at the University of Toulouse, he later pursued contemporary art at the Sorbonne, where he earned a DEA. In the late 1980s, he established his studio in the Paris suburbs, marking the start of his artistic journey. By 1990, Yamou fully committed to his art practice, and his works are now exhibited in prestigious international galleries and museums.
Nature is at the heart of Yamou’s artistic expression.His paintings resemble pictorial gardens, continuously evolving through botanical motifs and organic forms
From dense, leafy compositions to bare, minimalist spaces, his works capture the subtle strength and weightlessness of plant life. In 1997, Yamou began incorporating natural materials like sand and earth into his paintings, drawing inspiration from prehistoric Atlas Mountain cave paintings. These works often feature animal figures such as ibexes, rams, and gazelles, blending tradition with modern abstraction.
He describes plants as symbols of both continuity and change—dynamic, living entities that connect different elements.
During the 2000s, Yamou’s exploration became more microscopic, focusing on cellular structures and early life forms. His Germinations series delves into the unseen, revealing organic patterns and networks reminiscent of cellular growth. In his studio, which he likens to a laboratory, Yamou creates paintings that blur the line between figuration and abstraction, portraying what he calls the “ordinary miracle of life.”
In addition to painting, Yamou also creates sculptural works using everyday objects, tools, and utensils. These sculptures, often embedded with nails and featuring oxidized metal surfaces, convey themes of resilience and fragility, with small human silhouettes or live plants emerging from within.
Yamou’s work is part of several prestigious collections, including the ONA Foundation (Morocco), the Neuberger Museum of Art (USA), the World Bank (USA), the Ministère des Affaires Étrangères (France), and the Written Art Foundation (Germany).
Continuing to live and work between Paris and Tahanaout, Yamou remains dedicated to exploring the relationship between nature and form through painting and sculpture.
