Adel Abdessemed

Adel Abdessemed (b. 1971) is a French-Algerian artist and Professor at The European Graduate School / EGS. His work addresses violence, war, religion, and political themes through installations, videos, sculptures, and performances. He studied at the Fine Arts School in Batna, École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts (Algeria), and École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Lyon, France. His career includes residencies at PS1 (New York) and exhibitions at major institutions like the Venice Biennale, Centre Pompidou, and MIT. Key works include Coup de tête (2012), Don’t Trust Me (2008), and Hope (2012). Abdessemed’s art often sparks controversy, such as the removal of Coup de tête in Qatar due to religious criticism and the shutdown of Don’t Trust Me after animal rights protests.

• Education: École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Lyon
• Notable Exhibitions: Venice Biennale, MAMCO Geneva, MIT, Centre Pompidou

His themes revolve around violence’s impact on society, blending personal trauma (experienced during Algeria’s 1990s civil war) with global socio-political issues. Works like Who’s Afraid of Big Bad Wolf (2012) critique war through taxidermy installations, while Hope addresses refugee crises. Abdessemed’s art challenges cultural taboos and institutional norms, often using provocative imagery to provoke discourse.