Mohamed Fariji was born in 1966 in Casablanca.
A visual artist and graduate of the National Institute of Fine Arts in Tétouan and the Llotja School of Art and Design in Barcelona, Mohamed Fariji develops a multidisciplinary artistic practice involving photography, site-specific installations, workshops, and performances.
His work, at the intersection of art and civic engagement, is driven by a strong conviction: the artist must be a key agent of social change. Through participatory projects, site-specific works, and collaborative performances, Fariji seeks to engage local communities in creative processes that redefine their relationship with their environment. His often long-term projects explore the role of individuals in urban dynamics and call for critical reflection on the management of public spaces by institutions.
In 2011, Mohamed Fariji founded L’Atelier de l’Observatoire, a space near Casablanca designed as a platform for contemporary creation and civic mobilization. This unique laboratory serves both as a hub for artistic production and a space for dialogue to envision alternative solutions to ecological and societal challenges.
Since 2012, the artist has been deeply involved in an iconic project: an aesthetic and collective investigation of Casablanca’s abandoned Aquarium. Through this work, he examines local mythologies, proposes alternative narratives, and imagines ways to reclaim this forgotten space. The project exemplifies his commitment to preserving and revitalizing sites of memory while engaging citizens in a shared reflection on the future of their city.
Mohamed Fariji’s work has been showcased in prestigious institutions such as Kunsthal Aarhus (Denmark), the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Morocco (Rabat), Mc2 Gallery (Bordeaux), and FAD (Barcelona). His work has also been featured at the Sharjah Art Foundation (United Arab Emirates), Swab Art Fair (Barcelona), and Supermarket Art Fair (Stockholm).
The artist lives and works in Casablanca.