Othman Lazraq

Collector and president of Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden, Marrakech

A practising architect, Othman Lazraq is also the director of Fondation Alliances, a non-profit organisation dedicated to cultural development in Morocco, and president of the Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL) in Marrakech. The museum, which had its international launch in 2018, is home to the collection of the Lazraq family – an extensive holding of more than 2,000 works by artists from Morocco and other African countries. As president of the museum, Lazraq is focused on ensuring local outreach and accessibility: entry to the museum is free and there is an ambitious educational programme that accompanies the programme of exhibitions.

Since the age of 20, Lazraq has also been a keen collector of art – and in particular, contemporary African photography. His first acquisition was of two works by the late photographer Leila Alaoui, from her series The Moroccans. His interest in the medium motivated him to found La Chambre Claire, a photo competition for African artists for which Lazraq is chairman of the prize jury.

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