Valérie Belmokhtar

1973, Paris, France

Lives and works in Paris.

Valérie Belmokhtar studied at the Olivier de Serres School of Applied Arts and the Paris School of Fine Arts. Over time, this dual curriculum led her to develop a multidisciplinary artistic practice that encompasses engraving, drawing, and painting on various types of media. Paper has become her medium of choice in recent years.

Attending artist Francis Capdeboscq’s engraving workshop for some fifteen years allowed her to develop this medium, which she particularly loves.

Valérie Belmokhtar’s creative universe is nourished by various inspirations drawn from literature, poetry, fairy tales and mythology, as well as from observations of everyday life and dreams. Mythology and metamorphosis are recurring themes in her work. Childhood, plants, the relationship between humans and nature, sensations and the relationship with the body are present throughout her creations.

Valérie Belmokhtar particularly appreciates artists such as Odilon Redon, Paul Klee, Louise Bourgeois and Kiki Smith, and remains constantly alert to anything that might touch or inspire her.

‘After a long period of experimentation, my recent work now focuses on myths and the relationship to life and the body through them, mainly through printmaking and drawing on paper. I move from one to the other constantly.’

copyright Florent Lafon

Embroidered engravings, particularly Gaia and World Tree

“The drypoint engravings embroidered and printed on Gaia and World Tree fabric are a continuation of my creations based on myths.

They are inspired by modern and ancient myths and literature: Richard Powers’ book The Overstory inspired the title of this engraving, while Gaia, the primordial goddess of the earth in Greek mythology, inspired the title of the second engraving.

My work often depicts the human figure transforming into plants or water, transformations found in ancient myths, which I find particularly poetic and inspiring. Here, Gaia, the primordial goddess, is depicted in the middle of the forest, merging with it. Free embroidery highlights her presence among the trees, of which she seems to be an integral part.

These engravings suggest our connections to living things, imaginary metamorphoses and alliances with plants, as has always existed in stories around the world. These are connections that we have lost and that we should restore today.

Nature, living things and plants are often depicted in my work as forming a symbiotic relationship with the human figure. It is a dream of merging with nature, which can also be protective and which we must also protect. As in the World Tree depicted here, a tree that ‘creates’ a world where all living things can coexist within the tree, where everything is important, this same tree that certainly served as our shelter in prehistoric times. This suggests the care we should take with living things and emphasises the equal importance of all species, plant or animal, as they are represented as being on the same level as humans visually.

The choice of drypoint engraving and embroidery, which are slow and ancient techniques, seems to me to be in keeping with my creations, reinforcing this desire to slow down, to take my time when creating, and to promote techniques closely related to craftsmanship, which is very present in art today, in a society where everything moves too fast and where our role as artists may be to resist this destructive pace.

My intention to grow trees in engravings and show their fusion with humans is also to produce new images and new narratives that we need to build a more resilient, gentler and, I hope, more poetic world. Valérie Belmokhtar

Selected group exhibitions since 2012 (selection)

2025 Paris Print Fair, Nathalie Béreau Gallery, Couvent des Cordeliers, 6e, Paris
En nos cabanes, Coin de ciel Gallery, Paris 14ème
2024 Paris Print Fair, Nathalie Béreau Gallery, Couvent des Cordeliers, 6e, Paris
2023 Territoires, Nathalie Béreau Gallery, 17 rue Chapon, 3e, Paris
Mythes et réalité, Nathalie Béreau Gallery, 17 rue Chapon, 3e, Paris
2021 Journées de l’estampe, Place St Sulpice, Paris
2020 Un voyage parisien, Nathalie Béreau Gallery, Espace des Coutures St Gervais, Paris
2019 Parallèles, Nathalie Béreau Gallery, Espace Beaurepaire, Paris
2018-2019 Open House of the 14th – Vesna Garic’s workshop,
various print exhibitions, Improbable Jardin Gallery
2017 Le Plateau s’Illustre, Nantes
2016 Nathalie Béreau Gallery, at 6, Mandel, Paris
Day of the Print Place St Sulpice Paris (several editions)
Arthotèque de Lorraine, Faune et Flore, Bar Le Duc
2015 Jardin divers, Galerie Atelier Mandarine, Brest
Exhibition Artothèque de Lorraine
Interior garden, Estelle Lebas Gallery, Lille
Exhibition of engravings in the workshop of Fabien Merillon, le Gang des potiers, Paris
Exhibition of prints, Lorient in the studio of Lilou Swann
2014 Exhibition of engravings in the studio of Fabien Merillon, le Gang des potiers Paris, realization of drawing for ceramics in collaboration
Exhibition of contemporary art, Port-Louis Festival “La Clac”, prints
Elles aiment le Japon, Que sera sera 5ème edition @ Maison d’art Espace Japon Paris, exhibition of paintings with Japanese artists of the contemporary scene
contemporary prints: prospective look VI, Galerie Nathalie Béreau, 6, Mandel, Paris
Group exhibition of paintings with the Maison D’art Gallery, Japan Cultural Center, Paris
2012-2013 Winter exhibition, Galerie Nathalie Béreau, Chai Pierre et Bertrand Couly, Chinon

Awards and residencies

1997-1998 European scholarship, Athens School of Fine Arts (painting)
Collin Lefranc Scholarship School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston USA
2008 Youth literary prize at the International Book Fair of Périgueux for the illustrations of the book “Desserts à lire et à croquer”

Other

Public collections

Art Library of the Soucy Estate, Pays de Limours
Art Library of Pont l’Évêque
Art Library of Lorraine
Art Library of Le Relecq-Kerhuon
Print Room of the National Library of France

Professional career

2000-2025 Visual artist/Illustrator/Graver
2018-2025 Author and Illustrator Editions Pyramyd
2007-2025 Teacher of Illustration, youth illustration, Plastic Expression School Lignes et Formations
2004-2025 Teacher of painting/drawing/colors. French Development Agency
Professor of Plastic Expression/Drawing Ecole Bleue
2005-2011 Professor of Color (Theory and Practice) and Plastic Expression Ecole de Condé
2004-2005 Professor of Illustration. Esam Design School

Training

2009-2025 Engraving workshop with F.Capdeboscq Paris-Ateliers (metal, wood, lino)
1998 Graduate of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des BEAUX-ARTS de Paris – ENSBA
1994 Graduate of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Appliqués et des Métiers d’Art ENSAAMA – Olivier de Serres

Paintings, acrylic on canvas, 2009-2018.
Works available for sale