Art Basel’s ‘Meet the artists’ series presents the contemporary creatives shaping today’s cultural landscape.

Working primarily in oil paint, Bilal Hamdad investigates themes of isolation and connection within contemporary urban life. Born in Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria – a town known as ‘Little Paris’ for its Haussmannian architecture – the artist now works from his studio Paris’s 19th arrondissement, creating paintings that bridge his experiences across two cultures.

Hamdad’s path to art was unexpected. Initially focused on soccer, he discovered his calling at 18. ‘It was in art school that I found this joy,’ he says. ‘It has stayed with me ever since.’

His artistic process always begins on the streets. ‘I use my camera as a sketchbook,’ he explains. ‘Then, once I’m back in the studio, using several photos taken at different moments, I reconstruct the memory.’ This method allows him to capture not only visual elements but also the emotions that lie beneath. For Hamdad, painting is both a passion and a necessity: ‘My dream as an artist is to paint all my life.’

Bilal Hamdad is represented by Templon (Paris, Brussels, New York).

‘Paname’
From October 17, 2025 until February 8, 2026
Petit Palais, Paris