193 Gallery
Hassan Hajjaj , Morocco
"Legs"
Ahmed Legs, framed photography by ©️Hassan Hajjaj, 2022_1443. Courtesy of Ahmed, Hassan Hajjaj Studio & 193 Gallery
193 Gallery is pleased to present Legs, a special exhibition of works by internationally acclaimed Moroccan artist Hassan Hajjaj, on view in the Project Room from April 1 to May 31, 2025. Renowned for his dynamic fusion of contemporary portraiture, fashion, and pop culture, Hajjaj brings his signature aesthetic to a striking series that turns its focus to an unexpected yet evocative subject: legs and feet.
With this series, Hajjaj continues his exploration of identity, migration, and cultural hybridity. The exhibition introduces nine new portraits of legs adorned in vibrantly mismatched textiles, patterned socks, and boldly colored footwear, forming a visual symphony of textures and tones. Framed using his signature materials—vividly colored plastic mats and repurposed, hand-painted tires—these compositions transform the lower half of the body into a striking symbol of movement, displacement, and resilience. These unconventional materials not only enhance the visual dynamism of the works but also reinforce Hajjaj’s deep engagement with upcycling and the aesthetics of global street culture.
“In the olden days,” Hajjaj reflects, “people walked everywhere… your grandparents would tell you stories about how when they went to Algiers, it took them three months walking.” The imagery in Legs pays tribute to this history of physical journeys while also speaking to the modern experience of global nomads—individuals whose lives are shaped by the intersections of cultures, traditions, and geographies.
Hassan Hajjaj’s works are represented in permanent collections across the globe, including those of the Brooklyn Museum, New York, NY; Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, CA; Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK; Institut des Cultures d’Islam, Paris, France; Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, UAE; Kamel Lazaar Foundation, Tunisia; Musée d’Art Contemporain Africain Al Maaden, Marrakesh, Morocco; and National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia. The artist has presented landmark exhibitions at Freies Museum, Berlin, Germany; British Museum, London, UK; Newark Museum, NJ; and Leighton House Museum, UK. Hajjaj was born in 1961 in Larache, Morocco, and currently lives and works between London and Marrakesh.
Solo show of Hassan Hajjaj
From April 1st to May 31st, 2025
The gallery
Founded in 2018, the 193 Gallery, based in Paris and Venice, aims to offer a global tour of contemporary art and to showcase the diversity of art scenes worldwide, with a particular focus on Southern scenes (Caribbean, Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia).
Guided by the discovery and affirmation of diverse identities, the gallery supports a program aimed at fostering dialogue between different regions of the world, proposing a vision of art that transcends traditional Western interpretations. We are committed to promoting diversity by highlighting unique perspectives and celebrating the cultural richness of each continent.
The 193 Gallery participates in numerous prestigious art fairs (Untitled Miami, Arco Madrid, Zona Maco, Art Paris, Art Monte Carlo, Art Genève, Expo Chicago, Tokyo Gendai, Paris Photo, KIAF Seoul, Shanghai WestBund, Dallas Art Fair, 1-54 Marrakech / New York / London) and supports its artists in various biennales. In 2024, we are proud to present the exhibition "Passengers in Transit" a Collateral Event of the 60th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia.
Gallery artists
Ben Arpéa, Valentina Canseco, Aldo Chaparro, Joana Choumali, Zoila Andrea Coc-Chang, Christa David, Modou Dieng Yacine, Sesse Elangwe, Jade Fenu, Adler Guerrier, Hassan Hajjaj, Jean-Marc Hunt, Thandiwe Muriu, Shinji Nagabe, Hyacinthe Ouattara, Javier Toro Blum, Rob Tucker, Lorenzo Vitturi
