"Through this poignant portrayal, Maatallah's paintings and drawings evoke the fragile lives of the individuals he encounters in his daily experiences."
Born in 1981 in Al Fahs, Tunisia, Atef Maatallah resides and practices his art in Tunis. Maatallah completed his education at the Institut Supérieur des Beaux-Arts of Tunis and further honed his skills at the Cité des arts de Paris.
Atef Maatallah delves into the realm of narrative figuration, meticulously illustrating commonplace scenes and characters. Their haunting gazes evoke a sense of transience, capturing the fleeting essence of existence. Through this poignant portrayal, Maatallah's paintings and drawings evoke the fragile lives of the individuals he encounters in his daily experiences. His subjects are accompanied by objects that, in their ephemeral nature, allude to the precariousness of their societal circumstances.
Maatallah's art serves as a cultural commentary, offering glimpses into intimate stories or suggestive facets of everyday life within Tunisian society, often intertwined with historical narratives. He has been honoured with the Paris Contemporary Drawing Prize in both 2015 and 2016. His solo exhibitions at Elmarsa Gallery in Tunis and Dubai took place in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2019. His creations have been showcased in notable venues including L’Institut des Cultures de l’Islam de la Ville de Paris in 2016 and the Me.Na Pavilion in Singapore in 2014, curated by Catherine David from the Centre Pompidou. His works have gained visibility at international art fairs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Miami, Marrakech, London, Paris, and New York.
Maatallah's pieces have found their place in diverse private and public collections across North Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. These collections include the Barjeel Art Foundation, Kamel Lazaar Foundation, and the Tunisian Ministry of Culture.