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.

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.’