Lilia Ben Salah Opens Paris Gallery After Two Decades Promoting North African Art
Lilia Ben Salah, a gallerist of French-Tunisian descent, established her gallery in Paris two and a half years ago after spending over two decades in the art industry, beginning her career in 2003 at Elmarsa Gallery in Tunis. Founded in 1994, Elmarsa specializes in modern and contemporary art from North Africa and the Middle East. Ben Salah has experience working in Tunis, Dubai, and Paris, where she engaged with events like Art Dubai and Abu Dhabi Art. The gallery extended its reach to Dubai in 2015. Current exhibitions feature Georges Koskas and Farah Khelil, who is a contender for the Drawing Now Prize 2025. Ben Salah has organized seven solo shows for female artists and emphasizes the impact of the Arab Spring on artists’ perceptions since Tunisia's 2011 revolution.
Key facts
- Lilia Ben Salah opened her own gallery in Paris two and a half years ago.
- She joined Elmarsa Gallery in Tunis in 2003 after meeting founder Moncef Msakni.
- Elmarsa Gallery was founded in 1994 and focuses on modern and contemporary North African and Middle Eastern art.
- Ben Salah worked in Tunis, Dubai, and Paris over 20 years.
- Elmarsa participated in Art Dubai and Abu Dhabi Art from their inception, presenting modernist works from the 1940s to 2000s.
- The gallery expanded to Dubai in 2015 to increase visibility.
- Ben Salah aims to challenge categorizations and promote historical artists like Yahia Turki and Inji Efflatoun.
- A current exhibition features Georges Koskas and Farah Khelil, with Khelil shortlisted for the Drawing Now Prize 2025.
Entities
Artists
- Lilia Ben Salah
- Moncef Msakni
- Yahia Turki
- Amal Abdenour
- Inji Efflatoun
- Baya Mahieddine
- Chaïbia Talal
- Mahjoub Ben Bella
- Georges Koskas
- Farah Khelil
- Amel Bennys
- Zoulikha Bouabdellah
- Camille Pradon
- Malaika Temba
- Emma Ben Aziza
Institutions
- Elmarsa Gallery
- lilia ben salah gallery
- Art Dubai
- Abu Dhabi Art
- Sotheby's
- Christie's
- Drawing Now
- Canvas
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Tunis
- Tunisia
- Dubai
- UAE
- Algeria
- Morocco
- North Africa
- Middle East
- Maghreb
- Africa