Painter
Mehdi Qotbi
Born in Rabat in 1951 into a very modest family, Mehdi Qotbi became one of the great ambassadors of Moroccan art on the international stage. A brief stay at the military school in Kenitra revealed his gift for drawing, and at seventeen he entered the École des Beaux-Arts in Rabat, where painting became his passion. In 1969 a decisive encounter with Jilali Gharbaoui encouraged him to pursue his art, and soon after he left for France, where he would live for 37 years.
The artist
He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Toulouse, then in Paris, and taught visual arts at the Lycée La Rochefoucauld from 1978 to 2006, while founding the Morocco-France Friendship Circle and building a true cultural diplomacy between the two shores of the Mediterranean. Marked by Arabic calligraphy, his painting has been exhibited across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and the Middle East, and inspired dialogues with writers such as Léopold Sédar Senghor, Michel Butor, Nathalie Sarraute, Octavio Paz, Aimé Césaire and the poet Eugène Guillevic. Jean d'Ormesson called him "the creator before creation".
Returning to Morocco in 2008, he was appointed president of the National Museums Foundation by King Mohammed VI in 2011, working to raise the profile of Moroccan art, preserve the Kingdom's heritage and bring works by Giacometti, Picasso, Matisse, Monet and others to the Moroccan public. He is an Officer of the Order of the Throne, and in France a Commander of the Légion d'Honneur, Officer of the Ordre National du Mérite and Commander of Arts et Lettres.
Available works
Frequently asked questions
Where can one acquire a work by Mehdi Qotbi?
Each work may be reserved from its page via WhatsApp, or viewed beforehand at ARTWORKS, our gallery in Casablanca (Luxoria n°5, Avenue Ahmed Charci), during a private viewing by appointment.
What is the price of a work by Mehdi Qotbi?
The works currently on offer are priced at 9 000 DH.
How is the authenticity of the works checked?
No work is offered without first being physically examined by the gallery. For a living artist, authenticity is confirmed directly with the artist; for a deceased artist, a certificate of authenticity and provenance documents are required. Our authenticity protocol
Can the works be delivered?
Yes: within 48 hours in Casablanca and Rabat, three to four days elsewhere in Morocco; international shipping is quoted on request. Payment is made on delivery, by bank transfer or by cheque.
Acquire a work
Private viewing
in Casablanca
See the works of Mehdi Qotbi at ARTWORKS Gallery, by appointment.
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