A painting by the Moroccan old master Mohamed Melehi

Early Life and Education

Born in 1936 in Asilah, a historic coastal town in northern Morocco. Growing up amid the vibrant colors of the Mediterranean landscape, the sea and its horizons became formative inspirations that later infused his work. His journey as an artist, however, would take him far from Morocco before returning home with a renewed vision for modern art.

Melehi pursued his artistic studies abroad, beginning in Tétouan’s School of Fine Arts, then continuing in Spain at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid (1953–1956). His quest for artistic growth led him to Italy, where he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, and later to Paris, where he encountered the rich currents of European abstraction. His career took a decisive turn in the early 1960s when he moved to New York City, immersing himself in the avant-garde scene. Here, he encountered hard-edge abstraction and the minimalist aesthetic, which deeply shaped his style while fueling his desire to create a distinctly Moroccan modernism.

Artistic Journey

Melehi’s return to Morocco in the 1960s marked the start of a transformative period for both his career and the Moroccan art scene. He joined the École des Beaux-Arts in Casablanca, where he worked alongside fellow artists Farid Belkahia and Mohamed Chabâa. This trio became the driving force behind the Casablanca School of Art, a movement that sought to free Moroccan art from colonial academic traditions and integrate it with local heritage, craftsmanship, and modernist abstraction.

Melehi’s signature motif—the undulating wave form—emerged during this period. The wave, often painted in bold, flat colors, became both a personal symbol and a cultural one, linking the Mediterranean’s vitality to Morocco’s artistic identity. His works combined the precision of Western abstraction with the rhythm and spirituality of Islamic geometry and Amazigh design traditions.

His paintings were not confined to gallery walls. Melehi’s vision extended into architecture, urban space, and public art, emphasizing art’s role in society. He designed murals, posters, and large-scale works that reached beyond elite circles to engage with communities. The most famous manifestation of this philosophy was the Asilah Arts Festival, which Melehi co-founded in 1978 with politician Mohamed Benaïssa. The festival transformed his hometown into a living canvas, with artists from around the world painting murals that turned Asilah into an open-air museum.

Key Works and Style

Melehi’s oeuvre is distinguished by its vibrant chromatic fields, geometric precision, and flowing wave patterns. Works such as Composition (1963), Flamme (1964), and his later mural pieces exemplify his mastery of integrating local identity with global abstraction. His art resonates with a visual language that is simultaneously Moroccan and universal—rooted in traditional motifs yet aligned with the international avant-garde.

Beyond canvas and murals, Melehi also worked in photography, graphic design, and printmaking, reflecting his belief that art should permeate everyday life. His posters and designs for cultural events in Morocco became iconic in their own right.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

Mohammed Melehi was more than an artist; he was a cultural visionary. By bridging modern abstraction with Moroccan heritage, he challenged the dominance of European colonial aesthetics and created a new visual language for post-independence Morocco. His role as an educator at the Casablanca School nurtured generations of Moroccan artists, while his leadership in cultural initiatives like the Asilah Festival gave art a civic and democratic dimension.

Melehi’s work has been exhibited internationally, from New York and Paris to Dubai and Marrakech, affirming his place in global modernism. His influence can be seen in how Moroccan and Arab artists today approach the balance between tradition and modernity.

He passed away in October 2020 in Paris, leaving behind a monumental legacy as one of Morocco’s most important modernist painters. Today, his waves continue to ripple through art history, symbolizing both continuity and renewal.

Conclusion

Mohammed Melehi was not only a painter but also a cultural architect of Morocco’s modern identity. His artistic language—rooted in waves of color, abstraction, and tradition—spoke to the aspirations of a postcolonial society seeking to assert itself on the world stage. By blending local heritage with global modernism, he transformed Moroccan art into a force of cultural pride and international recognition.