Casablanca – Moroccan artist Kawtar Lourhraz brought the colors and stories of the Sahara to the 12th Tiznit International Forum for African Cultures, where she presented a collection of artworks inspired by the region’s landscapes, heritage, and nomadic traditions.
Running from November 4 to 6 at Idou Tiznit Hotel, the forum is organized by the Sheikh Ma Elainin Association for Development and Culture.
This year’s theme, “The Issue of Unity: Dimensions and Perspectives,” provides a fitting setting for Lourhraz’s work, which draws on her Sahrawi-Moroccan roots to explore the landscapes, textures, and cultural identity of the Sahara.
Through her paintings, Lourhraz highlights the traditions and stories that have shaped the region’s identity, giving audiences a chance to connect with Saharan heritage through art.
Her work also caught the attention of prominent figures attending the forum, including former Prime Minister Saad Dine El Otmani and the Governor of Tiznit Province, who visited the exhibition.
The event takes place as Morocco commemorates the anniversary of the Green March and the first anniversary of the Royal Initiative for the Atlantic Ocean, giving the forum an additional focus on unity and shared heritage.
Bringing Saharan heritage across borders
Originally from the Ait Zekeri tribe and now based in the United States, Lourhraz has built an artistic journey that connects her ancestral roots with an international audience.
Her works have previously appeared in exhibitions across the US, including collaborations with cultural institutions such as Alliance Française, the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences in Rocky Mount, and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.
Her participation in Tiznit offers another opportunity to bring that artistic journey closer to home. By presenting her work in Morocco, Lourhraz reconnects with the cultural heritage that informs her paintings while introducing local audiences to the artistic perspective she has developed abroad.
Art as a bridge between cultures
For artists living away from their homeland, cultural heritage can remain a powerful source of inspiration and creative expression. Lourhraz’s participation in the forum reflects how artistic work can keep those connections alive, carrying stories, traditions, and memories across geographical borders.
Her presence also adds to the cultural exchange that the Tiznit forum seeks to encourage, placing Sahrawi heritage within a wider conversation about Moroccan and African identity.
Through her paintings, Lourhraz offers more than images of the Sahara. She invites audiences to look at the region through the eyes of someone whose connection to its landscapes and traditions extends beyond geography.
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