Es Saadi Palace Marrakesh Hosts a Must-See Exhibition Celebrating Decades of Moroccan Art
In the heart of Marrakech, behind the palm-lined avenues of the Hivernage district, the Es Saadi Palace unveils a cultural treasure with the launch of its newest exhibition: From Morocco with Love. More than a celebration of art, this is a declaration. A deep, affectionate homage to Moroccan creativity, memory, and modernity. Inaugurated on May 18, 2025, the exhibition stands as a testament to one woman’s devotion to a country, its artists, and their stories.
Curated from the private collection of Élisabeth Bauchet-Bouhlal, a patron of the arts and emblematic figure of Marrakech’s cultural scene, this unprecedented exhibition brings together over 130 works from 65 Moroccan and international artists. Each piece, each brushstroke, tells the story of Morocco’s artistic evolution, from the post-independence surge of modernist expression to the audacious voices of a new generation.
This visual journey unfolds in the newly inaugurated Jnane Élisabeth, a permanent exhibition space designed as an inner garden. Serene, luminous, and richly symbolic, it offers more than a gallery. It is a sanctuary where art meets emotion, where time bends and traditions speak across decades. Here, chronology yields to intuition. Viewers are invited to drift, to connect, and to feel.
What sets this collection apart is not merely its breadth, but its intimacy. Built over decades alongside her late husband, Jamil Bouhlal, a pioneering Moroccan engineer with deep ties to legendary figures like Ahmed Cherkaoui and Jilali Gharbaoui, Bauchet-Bouhlal’s collection offers a deeply personal reading of Moroccan art. Her journey began not in museums, but in ateliers, homes, and friendships, guided by instinct, affection, and a desire to give back. “For taste, for friendship, and to reflect what I saw and loved,” she once said.
From the Eden-like dreamscapes of Ahmed Louardiri to the electric pop portraits of Hassan Hajjaj, the exhibition traverses movements, mediums, and mindsets. It pays tribute to the Casablanca School, embraces abstraction, and dives into questions of identity, memory, and spiritual introspection. Themes such as light, time, esotericism, and the body are interwoven with humor and humanity, echoing the collector’s unique gaze.
Far from a traditional retrospective, From Morocco with Love encourages dialogue between generations. Works that seemingly belong to different eras or styles are placed in resonance, suggesting connections beyond time. Reflections on marginality, forgotten histories, North-South dynamics, and the playful subversion of artistic codes all find their place here.
As a member of the Tate Modern’s acquisition committee for MENA artists, Bauchet-Bouhlal’s advocacy has extended beyond borders. Her vision is one of cultural diplomacy rooted in sincerity. Not grand statements, but tender gestures. Her efforts were honored by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in 2014, a moment she calls “foundational.”
In the words of curator Hicham Daoudi, From Morocco with Love dares to rewrite the narrative. It takes risks, offers new readings of Moroccan art history, and multiplies the voices heard within it, all while honoring the joys of sincere human connection.
With this exhibition, Es Saadi Palace doesn’t just open a gallery. It opens a window into the Moroccan soul.
Exhibition Info
From Morocco with Love
Es Saadi Palace, Marrakech
Permanent space: Jnane Élisabeth
Opened: May 18, 2025
More info: www.essaadi.com
© 2025 NIGHTY MAGAZINE . All Rights Reserved.