Fez — Rabat will host the opening of the national exhibition “60 Years of Painting in Morocco” on January 6, marking the launch of the Kingdom’s cultural calendar for 2026 with a major retrospective dedicated to Moroccan visual art.
Placed under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI, the exhibition traces six decades of pictorial creation in Morocco through works by pioneering artists alongside contemporary talents.
The event is organized by the Moroccan Syndicate of Professional Visual Artists, which said the initiative aims to honor artistic memory while showcasing ongoing creative vitality.
A national retrospective with an itinerant scope
According to the organizers, “60 Years of Painting in Morocco” is conceived as a national, traveling exhibition that will move beyond Rabat to several major cities, including Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech, and Laâyoune. The project is supported by the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication and organized in partnership with the Musée Bank Al-Maghrib and the Villa des Arts – Fondation Al Mada.
The exhibition highlights the evolution of Moroccan painting, emphasizing its aesthetic richness, diversity of expression, and the dialogue between successive generations. It also pays tribute to artists who helped shape Morocco’s national artistic memory.
Dialogues between generations and institutions
Beyond its historical dimension, the retrospective presents a living panorama where established artists and emerging voices engage in visual dialogue. Organizers say the exhibition underscores the fundamental role of visual arts in cultural development and in strengthening Morocco’s artistic presence nationally and internationally.
Several professional galleries known for their cultural engagement are participating in the initiative, including Galerie Dar d’Art in Tangier, Eden Art Gallery, Galerie 38, Loft Art Gallery, and Myriem Himmich Gallery in Casablanca, Galerie Noir sur Blanc and Khalid Fine Arts in Marrakech, and Kent Gallery in Tangier.
A multi-venue opening in Rabat
The inaugural vernissage will take place simultaneously across four emblematic venues in Rabat: the Galerie Nationale Bab Rouah, the Villa des Arts – Fondation Al Mada, the Musée Bank Al-Maghrib, and the Galerie Bab El Kébir des Oudayas.
A dedicated art book will accompany the exhibition, extending its reach and preserving its legacy. Together, the exhibition and its parallel publications position Rabat as a starting point for a nationwide reflection on six decades of Moroccan painting — an artistic journey that links memory, innovation, and cultural continuity.
