Adel Abdessemed (b. 1971, Constantine, Algeria) lives and works in Paris, France.
Adel Abdessemed is a French artist of Berber origin, who lived between Batna and Algiers until 1994 when he moved to France. His work reflects the impact of growing up in Algeria amid civil war tensions and the related global media coverage. He studied at the École nationale des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, where he expanded his use of materials beyond traditional media, exploring the possibilities of video and of collaborating with a community of artists. Through creative interpretations of drawing, video, animation, sculpture and installation, Abdessemed explores personal histories and universal themes. Since his first solo exhibition in 2001, he has held several others, notably at MoMA PS1, New York (2007); Parasol Unit, London (2010); Centre Pompidou, Paris (2013); Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha (2014); and Rockbund Museum, Shanghai (2021). His work has been presented at major biennials such as Venice (2003, 2007, 2011, 2015); Istanbul (2007, 2017); Havana (2009), Gwangju (2008), Lyon (2007), and São Paulo (2006) and is in numerous international collections, both public and private.