Renowned Moroccan Artist Mohamed Melehi Dies at 84 from COVID-19

Mohamed Melehi occupies a prominent place in the world of the visual arts in Morocco and around the world. A man of dialogue and debate, he has always invited constructive exchanges. His artistic style, which is modernity, is based on geometric abstraction, very open to figuration, and which draws inspiration from forms that are part of the immediate environment of the artist, such as the sinuous line that evokes a wave. This style has often been misunderstood by some who accuse him of making paintings that do not refer to Moroccan culture. As a reaction to the criticism, the artist hangs a Berber carpet next to his paintings, as if to show his knowledge of the richness of the Moroccan artistic tradition and heritage.

Mohamed Melehi also created mural paintings that adorn the houses of Asilah, his hometown. These are works that have contributed to the reputation of the Moussem, an artistic and intellectual event that the artist co-founded with Mohamed Benaissa. The deceased was a versatile and talented artist whose exhibitions have often attracted crowds. His exhibition "New Waves: Mohamed Melehi and the Casablanca Art School", organized in 2019 in London, was ranked by the English press among the top 10 must-see exhibitions.