Ali Bellagha | Tunisian 1924-2006

Ali Bellagha, born into a venerable family of craftsmen in Tunis's medina 1924, embarked on a creative journey that led him to Paris after studying at the Institut des Hautes Etudes de Tunis. At the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, he honed his skills in drawing, engraving, and ceramics, delving into the world of art at various institutions.

In 1953, he debuted his solo exhibition, marking the beginning of a prolific career exhibited in Tunis and beyond. Teaching at Sadiki College from 1956, Bellagha passionately shared his artistic insights.

In the 1960s, with wife Jacqueline Guilbert, he curated Les Métiers, an art gallery in Tunis showcasing antique objects and modern creations. Bellagha, a connoisseur of art forms, breathed new life into Arab-Muslim heritage, infusing it with modernity and revitalizing Tunisian artistic traditions.

Awarded the National Prize for Plastic Arts in 2003, Bellagha's impact extended to the Handicrafts Fair in Tunis in 2006, where he was the esteemed guest of honor. A champion of heritage preservation, he contributed to the creation of the Dar Gmach ecomuseum in Takrouna village. Bellagha's legacy lives on, a vibrant fusion of tradition and innovation in the tapestry of Tunisian art.