SEIF KOUSMATE
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Seif Kousmate, Untiteld, Rwandan Youth series, 60 x 90 cm, 2018-19. Courtesy the Artist and GOWEN. © Seif Kousmate.
Seif Kousmate, Untiteld, Rwandan Youth series, 90 x 60 cm, 2018-19. Courtesy the Artist and GOWEN. © Seif Kousmate.
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ABOUT
Seif Kousmate (b.1988) is a visual artist born in Essaouira and living in Tangier, Morocco. In 2014, he quit his civil engineering career and bought his first camera at 26. As a self-taught artist, he began his journey into photography by exploring documentary photography. His lens was focused on capturing the diverse manifestations of marginalization in Africa. His early projects served as a platform for the narratives of Rwandan youth post genocide, formerly enslaved people in Mauritania (Haratins), and Subsaharian migrants in search of a better life in Europe. In Morocco, Seif’s work revolved around Boujloud celebrations and documented the lives in the Atlas Mountains facing climate change. He is currently working on his series “Waha” and his first monograph, a four-year essay on the oases
and the changes they are facing. Seif’s artistic practice has evolved over the past decade, now intersecting with contemporary art and photography. His upcoming project explores masculinity and fatherhood, pushing the boundaries of photography into the realm of installation artwork and video.
and the changes they are facing. Seif’s artistic practice has evolved over the past decade, now intersecting with contemporary art and photography. His upcoming project explores masculinity and fatherhood, pushing the boundaries of photography into the realm of installation artwork and video.
BIOGRAPHY
SEIF KOUSMATE I BIOGRAPHY
Born in 1988, Essaouira, Morocco
Lives and works in Tangier, Morocco
EXHIBITIONS
2025 The Silence between us- FRAC Nouvelle Aquitaine Méca, Bordeaux, France.
2025 Photo Basel 2025, with GOWEN, Basel, Switzerland
2025 Waha- Institut Français de Casablanca, Morocco.
2025 Waha- Institut Français d’Oujda- Figuig, Morocco.
2025 Waha- Institut Français de Marrakech, Morocco.
2025 Waha- Institut Français d’Agadir, Morocco.
2024 Waha- Indian Photo Festival, India.
2024 Men vs Fathers- Paris Photo, France.
2024 Waha- Four Corners London,UK.
2024 Waha- APHF24 ,Benaki Mesuem, Greece.
2024 Waha- Yeast photo festival , Italy.
2024 Waha- Raneen, Oman.
2024 Waha- Fotofestiwal Łódź’s Night of Photography, Poland.
2024 Waha- Institut Français d’essaouira, Morocco.
2024 Waha- Points of resonance The Africa Center, NYC, USA.
2024 Waha- Artsonje Center Seoul , Korea.
2024 Waha -Copenhagen photo festival, Denmark.
2024 Waha - Photoville festival, NYC, USA.
2023 Waha Points of Resonance: Contemporary Photography in Africa by TINTERA gallery- Cairo, Egypt.
2023 Waha- Casa Arabe Cordoba- Cordoba, Spain.
2023 Waha-PHotoESPAÑA 2023 Festival at Casa Árabe- Madrid, Spain.
2023 Waha-Contact photography Festival - Toronto, Canada.
2023 Waha- San José Foto- San jose, Uruguay.
2023 Waha- The Henie Onstad Triennial for Photography- Oslo, Norway.
2023 Waha- Deutsche Börse photography foundation - Frankfurt, Germany.
2022 Waha- Jaou Photo Tunis, Tunisia.
2022 Waha- Bronx Documentary Art Center - New York, USA.
2022 Waha- Mishat Festival - Oslo, Norway.
2022 Waha- Foam Museum- Amsterdam, Nederland.
2022 Waha- Face à la mer- French institute of Tangier Morocco.
2022 Waha- More Than Your Eyes Can See, Middle East Institute Arts and Culture Center Gallery - Washington D.C, USA.
2022 Waha- Palmier Fatigué, Le Cube - Rabat, Morocco.
2022 Rwandan Youth- Rencontres de Bamako - Bamako, Mali.
2022 Waha- Rencontres d’Arles - Prix Découverte Louis Roederer 2022 - Arles, France.
2021 Haratins - La friche belle de Mai - Marseille, France.
2021 Waha - Humburg Portfolio review - Humburg, Germany.
2021 Haratins- Institut du monde arabe - Tourcoing, France.
2021 Tempus Figus- Musée Abderrahmane Slaoui - Casablanca, Morocco.
2020 Tempus Figus- Museum of African Contemporary Art (Macaal) - Marrakech, Morocco.
2019 Six meters from the dreamland-The foundation of photography of Tangier -Tangier, Morocco.
2019 Rwandan Youth-The 20th edition of Barrobjectif - Barro, France.
2019 Rwandan Youth-The 3rd edition of Incadaces - Cadaces, Spain.
2019 Rwandan Youth-Les nuits photographique d’Essaouira- Essaouira, Morocco.
2018 Six meters from the dreamland-The Addis Foto Fest Ethiopië Festival- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
2018 Six meters from the dreamland-Derbe 18 Marrakech Gallery - Marrakech, Morocco.
PRIZES, NOMINATIONS AND GRANTS
2024 Winner of Portrait of Humanity with «Waha».
2024 Nominated for Prix Elysée 2025.
2023 Shortlisted for Publishing Ecology The Loose Joints and Mahler & LeWitt Studios Publishing Award.
2022 Winner of Prix de la photographie du Musée Quai Branly with «Waha».
2022 Pro Helvetia grant, Project with Collective 220 and KOZ Collective - Cairo, Egypt.
2022 Nominated for the leica oskar barnack award.
2022 Shortlisted for LOUIS ROEDERER DISCOVERY AWARD.
2022 Selected as a Foam Talents - 2022
2021 Winner of the 6Mois Award with «Waha».
2021 Finalist of le Prix Levallois with «Waha» .
2020 Arab Documentary Photography Program - Magnum Foundation/Prince Claus Fund/AFAC Grant.
2020 6X6 Africa Global Talent by World Press Photo.
2020 New York Portfolio Review by the New York Times.
2020 Shortlisted for CAP Prize - Switzerland.
2019 Winner of the photographic meetings Face à la Mer in Tangier.
2019 Shortlisted for Direct Look in Russia.
2018 National Geographic Society grant to pursue my long-term work on migration in Africa.
2018 Nominated for the Joop Swart Masterclass by World Press Photo.
2018 Nominated for the 6X6 Africa Global Talent Program by World Press Photo.
WORKSHOPS, TALKS AND PRESENTATIONS
2024 Lecture for Live magazine - Paris, France.
2024 Lecture for Live magazine - Rabat, Morocco.
2024 Lecture for Live magazine - Casablanca, Morocco.
2024 Lecture for Live magazine - Marrakech, Morocco.
2023 Lecture at Quai Branly Museum - Paris, France.
2023 KOZ Talks at the American Arts Center - Casablanca, Morocco.
2022 Lecture at Mishat Festival - Oslo, Norway.
2022 Speaker at a conference in Arles 2022 about “PHOTOGRAPHIER SUR LECONTINENT AFRICAIN:COMMENT DÉPASSER LES FRONTIÈRES DUVISIBLE?”
2021 Qisas a one week photography workshop with teenagers at la Cinemathèque deTanger- Tangier, Morocco.
2021 Three months of photography workshops with teenagers at the cultural center Les Étoilesdu détroit- Tangier, Morocco.
2021 A Masterclass about documentary photography at l’Uzine foundation- Casablanca, Morocco.
2020 A collaborative work for the TEDxYaba Nigeria.
2019 A photography workshop with teenagers at the cultural center Les Étoilesde Sidi Moumen- Casablanca, Morocco.
2019 Speaker at the Forum of humans rights at the festival Gnaoua- Essaouira, Morocco.
2019 Speaker at a conference about documentary photography in North Africa by Photo Doc- Paris, France.
PUBLICATIONS
M le magazine du Monde,
The New York Times,
Newsweek,
Financial Times,
L’OBS,
The Guardian,
El pais,
NZZ,
Libération,
GUP magazine,
Le Point, Le Vif,
Jeune Afrique,
La Croix,
La Vie,
Le Desk,
The New Humanitarian...
Born in 1988, Essaouira, Morocco
Lives and works in Tangier, Morocco
EXHIBITIONS
2025 The Silence between us- FRAC Nouvelle Aquitaine Méca, Bordeaux, France.
2025 Photo Basel 2025, with GOWEN, Basel, Switzerland
2025 Waha- Institut Français de Casablanca, Morocco.
2025 Waha- Institut Français d’Oujda- Figuig, Morocco.
2025 Waha- Institut Français de Marrakech, Morocco.
2025 Waha- Institut Français d’Agadir, Morocco.
2024 Waha- Indian Photo Festival, India.
2024 Men vs Fathers- Paris Photo, France.
2024 Waha- Four Corners London,UK.
2024 Waha- APHF24 ,Benaki Mesuem, Greece.
2024 Waha- Yeast photo festival , Italy.
2024 Waha- Raneen, Oman.
2024 Waha- Fotofestiwal Łódź’s Night of Photography, Poland.
2024 Waha- Institut Français d’essaouira, Morocco.
2024 Waha- Points of resonance The Africa Center, NYC, USA.
2024 Waha- Artsonje Center Seoul , Korea.
2024 Waha -Copenhagen photo festival, Denmark.
2024 Waha - Photoville festival, NYC, USA.
2023 Waha Points of Resonance: Contemporary Photography in Africa by TINTERA gallery- Cairo, Egypt.
2023 Waha- Casa Arabe Cordoba- Cordoba, Spain.
2023 Waha-PHotoESPAÑA 2023 Festival at Casa Árabe- Madrid, Spain.
2023 Waha-Contact photography Festival - Toronto, Canada.
2023 Waha- San José Foto- San jose, Uruguay.
2023 Waha- The Henie Onstad Triennial for Photography- Oslo, Norway.
2023 Waha- Deutsche Börse photography foundation - Frankfurt, Germany.
2022 Waha- Jaou Photo Tunis, Tunisia.
2022 Waha- Bronx Documentary Art Center - New York, USA.
2022 Waha- Mishat Festival - Oslo, Norway.
2022 Waha- Foam Museum- Amsterdam, Nederland.
2022 Waha- Face à la mer- French institute of Tangier Morocco.
2022 Waha- More Than Your Eyes Can See, Middle East Institute Arts and Culture Center Gallery - Washington D.C, USA.
2022 Waha- Palmier Fatigué, Le Cube - Rabat, Morocco.
2022 Rwandan Youth- Rencontres de Bamako - Bamako, Mali.
2022 Waha- Rencontres d’Arles - Prix Découverte Louis Roederer 2022 - Arles, France.
2021 Haratins - La friche belle de Mai - Marseille, France.
2021 Waha - Humburg Portfolio review - Humburg, Germany.
2021 Haratins- Institut du monde arabe - Tourcoing, France.
2021 Tempus Figus- Musée Abderrahmane Slaoui - Casablanca, Morocco.
2020 Tempus Figus- Museum of African Contemporary Art (Macaal) - Marrakech, Morocco.
2019 Six meters from the dreamland-The foundation of photography of Tangier -Tangier, Morocco.
2019 Rwandan Youth-The 20th edition of Barrobjectif - Barro, France.
2019 Rwandan Youth-The 3rd edition of Incadaces - Cadaces, Spain.
2019 Rwandan Youth-Les nuits photographique d’Essaouira- Essaouira, Morocco.
2018 Six meters from the dreamland-The Addis Foto Fest Ethiopië Festival- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
2018 Six meters from the dreamland-Derbe 18 Marrakech Gallery - Marrakech, Morocco.
PRIZES, NOMINATIONS AND GRANTS
2024 Winner of Portrait of Humanity with «Waha».
2024 Nominated for Prix Elysée 2025.
2023 Shortlisted for Publishing Ecology The Loose Joints and Mahler & LeWitt Studios Publishing Award.
2022 Winner of Prix de la photographie du Musée Quai Branly with «Waha».
2022 Pro Helvetia grant, Project with Collective 220 and KOZ Collective - Cairo, Egypt.
2022 Nominated for the leica oskar barnack award.
2022 Shortlisted for LOUIS ROEDERER DISCOVERY AWARD.
2022 Selected as a Foam Talents - 2022
2021 Winner of the 6Mois Award with «Waha».
2021 Finalist of le Prix Levallois with «Waha» .
2020 Arab Documentary Photography Program - Magnum Foundation/Prince Claus Fund/AFAC Grant.
2020 6X6 Africa Global Talent by World Press Photo.
2020 New York Portfolio Review by the New York Times.
2020 Shortlisted for CAP Prize - Switzerland.
2019 Winner of the photographic meetings Face à la Mer in Tangier.
2019 Shortlisted for Direct Look in Russia.
2018 National Geographic Society grant to pursue my long-term work on migration in Africa.
2018 Nominated for the Joop Swart Masterclass by World Press Photo.
2018 Nominated for the 6X6 Africa Global Talent Program by World Press Photo.
WORKSHOPS, TALKS AND PRESENTATIONS
2024 Lecture for Live magazine - Paris, France.
2024 Lecture for Live magazine - Rabat, Morocco.
2024 Lecture for Live magazine - Casablanca, Morocco.
2024 Lecture for Live magazine - Marrakech, Morocco.
2023 Lecture at Quai Branly Museum - Paris, France.
2023 KOZ Talks at the American Arts Center - Casablanca, Morocco.
2022 Lecture at Mishat Festival - Oslo, Norway.
2022 Speaker at a conference in Arles 2022 about “PHOTOGRAPHIER SUR LECONTINENT AFRICAIN:COMMENT DÉPASSER LES FRONTIÈRES DUVISIBLE?”
2021 Qisas a one week photography workshop with teenagers at la Cinemathèque deTanger- Tangier, Morocco.
2021 Three months of photography workshops with teenagers at the cultural center Les Étoilesdu détroit- Tangier, Morocco.
2021 A Masterclass about documentary photography at l’Uzine foundation- Casablanca, Morocco.
2020 A collaborative work for the TEDxYaba Nigeria.
2019 A photography workshop with teenagers at the cultural center Les Étoilesde Sidi Moumen- Casablanca, Morocco.
2019 Speaker at the Forum of humans rights at the festival Gnaoua- Essaouira, Morocco.
2019 Speaker at a conference about documentary photography in North Africa by Photo Doc- Paris, France.
PUBLICATIONS
M le magazine du Monde,
The New York Times,
Newsweek,
Financial Times,
L’OBS,
The Guardian,
El pais,
NZZ,
Libération,
GUP magazine,
Le Point, Le Vif,
Jeune Afrique,
La Croix,
La Vie,
Le Desk,
The New Humanitarian...
