Born 1971 in Constantine, Algeria, Adel Abdessemed has established himself as a prominent figure on the contemporary art scene. Across a wide range of media, including drawing, video, photography, performance, sculpture, and installation, he transforms everyday materials and images into unexpected and charged artistic declarations. Pulling freely from myriad sources—personal, social, and political—his visual language is simultaneously rich and direct, sensitive and controversial, radical and mundane. Abdessemed’s art addresses the underlying effects of globalized society on the individual, often using his own personal circumstances as a point of departure.

The artist attended the École des Beaux-Arts d’Alger, Algiers, and the École nationale des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, France. In 2008, he joined David Zwirner, New York, where he had his first American gallery solo exhibition, RIO, in 2009. Adel Abdessemed: Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf marked his second solo show at the gallery, which was on view from February 17 – March 17, 2012.

A major survey of the artist’s work is planned for October 2012 at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, and will be accompanied by an exhibition catalogue. His work was recently the subject of solo exhibitions at Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art, London, and the Ontario College of Art & Design, Toronto (both 2010). Other notable solo exhibitions include the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin (2009); MIT List Visual Arts Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts; San Francisco Art Institute (both 2008); P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City, New York (2007); and Musée d’art moderne et contemporain, Geneva (2004).

The artist has participated in a number of important group exhibitions, including In Praise of Doubt, Punta della Dogana, Venice; Seeing is believing, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin (both 2011); Aichi Triennale 2010, Nagoya, Japan (2010); Mapping the Studio: Artists from the François Pinault Collection, Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana, Venice; 10th Lyon Biennale, France; 10th Istanbul Biennial; 10th Havana Biennial (all 2009); 7th Gwangju Biennial, Gwangju, South Korea (2008); 52nd Venice Biennale (2007); Happiness: A Survival Guide for Art and Life, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo (2003); Yokohama Triennale (2001); and Manifesta 3, Ljubljana, Slovenia (2000).

His work is represented in prominent collections internationally, including the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; The Israel Museum, Jerusalem; Musée d’art moderne et contemporain, Geneva; Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris; and the François Pinault Foundation, Venice. He lives and works in Paris.

A comprehensive monograph of Abdessemed’s work is currently being prepared by David Zwirner in collaboration with Pier Luigi Tazzi and Steidl. This catalogue raisonné will be published in 2013.