#BIO Graduate of the Sorbonne (University Paris I) in medieval history and art history, Tarek released Paris Tonkar in 1991 at the age of 19 years: the first art book published in Europe dedicated to Spray can art in Paris. It has become a reference for all urban art lovers as well as for Hip-hop specialists. He has exhibited his first paintings in 1992 in the Espace Chapon at the great exhibition Paris Graffiti, a significant event because the magazine 1Tox was presented the same time. He helped organize this exhibition and launch of the magazine: graffiti art knows his moment of glory during this period. Tarek chose to break away from that environment to better concentrate on his studies and writing of his master devoted to the Neo-Platonists in Baghdad during the golden age of the Abbasids. He studied Arabic at the Bourguiba Institute in Tunis from 1992 to 1993, while making numerous photo reports. Tarek has lived in Damascus between 1995 and 1997, where he taught French and has given conferences at the French Cultural Centre (Damascus and Aleppo) and the School of Fine Arts in Latakia. His photographic work is exposed to Latakia and Damascus, then in France in many places including the Syrian Cultural Center in Paris and various cultural areas in the provinces. Since 1999, Tarek has written more than sixty albums; he has worked with several publishers and he has won many awards including the Saint-Michel for Best Screenplay in 2007 for Sir Arthur Benton. That same year, his work on this series has been exhibited at the Caen’s Memorial for four months: it was the first time a comic was well highlighted in a place for history and memory. His comics for young people are regularly used in schools since 2004. He regularly gives conferences on comics, history and contemporary art. In 2009, he participated in a symposium on the Cold War in Caen’s Memorial by presenting his work on propaganda and Comics during this period. Tarek is dedicated more to photography and is currently preparing an anniversary edition of his first book also a book on the history of graffiti from 1983 to 1995. For twenty years he has worked and reflects on different artistic expressions: comics, graffiti, urban art, photography, video, Arabic calligraphy. He also worked in lot of magazines such as Bédéka, Meuriad or Ya ! as a journalist and comic book author. The year 2010 marked a turning point in his artistic career began as a leading journal dedicated to urban art: Paris Tonkar magazine and regular contributor to International Hip-Hop, Cosmic Hip-Hop and Fatcap magazine. The same year he co-wrote the script for a pilot for American TV series and began to exhibit his artistic works in Switzerland and in Canada before proposing his artwork and photographic in France! The comic is not neglected so far: he has written a new series including superheroes Blateman et Bobine with Vhenin’s drawing (published in December 2015), another on the Gallic Wars (two volumes available, the first was presented in preview at Angouleme in 2012 IDBF) and Turcos a story on « Indigènes » in the trenches, in Tartamudo publishing. The album was nominated for the Tournesol prize and Tarek presented his documentary Turcos le making-off, during the FIBD at Angouleme, France. Tarek has also published a comic book with Seb Cazes to the drawing published by the Pan waffles entitled Le Concierge. The reception of the public and the press were unanimous in welcoming the audacity and the quality of this story. At the same time, he has exhibited in France in P1110762new galleries, participated in auctions in Lyon and Paris at Artcurial … The gallery Philippe Gelot represents him in Paris and supports his work. He participates in many events of urban art in France and Greece. His collages are visible all over the world! Since September 2013, the galerie comics book, this year also marks available in English and Flemish. paintings twice in New York where
203 in Montreal reprents him in Canada … On the a new phase because some of his albums are Between 2013 and 2014 he exhibited his he goes for a live painting.
The Urban gallery in Paris and Cognac art gallery permanently exhibit his latest works in volume as well as large format paintings. Many of his paintings join private collections of companies and public institutions: museums and cities. He also participated in many auctions either in Paris or Lyon. The online gallery Newarty’s has incorporated some of his artworks from 2013: his work immediately a great success with their collectors. In 2015, Tarek began collaboration with the collective Parcours Aucwin and he has also boosted the collective “Partitions urbaines” with whom he exhibited in many galleries in France and realized urban performance, mainly in Paris and Rennes. His comic’s books series continue to arouse the enthusiasm from the public: the Gallic Wars gets the award for best historical series in comics convention in Rive-de-Giers and the drawings of the two albums are exhibited in many public institutions. The gallery L’œil ouvert (Republique) in Paris now presents original artworks of Tarek: drawings and customs. At last, he began an artistic collaboration with the gallery Jed Voras (Paris): collective exhibition, happening at the regional elections in France ... The Depôt art gallery in Athens proposed to Tarek becoming resident artist and a major exhibition collective in December has formalized this new collaboration. As regards his writing, Tarek began to work on several projects including a scenario of Hannibal Barca with Vincent Pompetti to the drawing (scheduled in Tartamudo publishing); the following of the Blateman et Bobine‘s comic book with Vhenin and a short film script. In 2016, he exhibited his paintings at several solo show in Paris, Moulins, Pacé and Rennes. The success was huge! It also participates in urban culture festivals in Pacé, Rouen and Paris, where he is involved in realizing performance on wall and canvas. At the first Urban Art Fair in Paris, he meets Henry Chalfant and Martha Cooper on the occasion of a conference on the origin of the graffiti movement. The anniversary edition of Paris Tonkar is scheduled for September 2016. In Hamburg (Germany), Tarek has proposed the public to discover his artworks in many galleries and became known to the French community living in this city. He has exhibited at the Cultural Boat MS Stubnit, the Kunsthaus an der Alster gallery and Studio Longboard. He also participated in the Festiv’art in Kribi (Cameroon) during which he painted many walls with Simon Binna and other Cameroonian painters. In addition, several solo and group exhibitions have punctuated his work painting and comics: in Rennes, Lyon, Moulin, Paris, Hamburg, Sao Paulo, Brussels, Kribi, Montreal or Andenne, public could appreciate and buy their productions! New galleries offer his works: Superposition (Lyon), No gallery (Rennes), Sub galeria (Sao Paulo), Galerie JPHT, Galerie Ligne 13 and Galerie Simon & Roth (Paris). #COLLECTIONS My paintings and volumes have integrated collections of many art lovers worldwide. Africa: Tunisia, Morocco and Cameroon Asia: Japan, South Korea and Palestine America: USA, Canada and Brazil Europe: France, England, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Andorra, Spain, Ibiza, Greece, Italy, Czech republic and Portugal Oceania: Australia My paintings have integrated the collections of museum, cities and companies. France: Viltaïs (Moulins), Ville de Guéret, Croix-Rouge Française (Paris), Ad Tatum (Paris), Monin (Bourges) Belgium: Museum Shoes or no Shoes Tunisia: Havas Worldwide (Tunis) #EXHIBITIONS painting
[solo exhibition]
Galerie Calvanostra / Caen, oct. 2017 Galerie Carole Kvasnevski / Paris, sept. 2017 Galerie L’œil ouvert / Paris, sept. 2017 Pôle culturel / Plouasne, 2017 Galerie Superposition / Lyon, 2017 Atelier 17 / Moulins, 2017 Galerie Philippe Gelot / Paris, 2017 Kunsthaus an der Alster / Hambourg, 2017 Galerie Ligne 13 / Paris, 2017 Studio Longboard #2 / Hambourg, 2016 Barexpo / Rennes, 2016 Studio Longboard / Hambourg, 2016 Kunsthaus an der Alster / Hambourg, 2016 L’Atelier de l’artiste / Rennes, 2016 La Médiathèque / Pacé, 2016 Atelier 17 / Moulins, 2016 Galerie Carole Kvasnevski / Paris, 2016 Librairie-galerie Pecari Amphibie / Rennes, 2015 L’Aménagerie / Montluçon, 2015 L’Aménagerie / Moulins, 2015 Atelier 17 / Moulins, 2015 One eye open Gallery / New York, 2014 Galerie 203 / Montréal, 2014 Atelier 17 / Moulins, 2014 Urban Culture / Guéret, 2014 Galerie Philippe Gelot / Paris, 2013 L’art et la nature / Bourges, 2013 Viltaïs / Moulins, 2013 Galerie Collectie / Paris, 2013 Atelier 17 / Moulins, 2013 L’Aménagerie / Moulins, 2013 Galerie de l’escalier / Rennes, 2012 Médiathèque / Ploërmel, 2012 Librairie Envie de lire / Ivry, 2012 Galerie Juxtapoz / Marseille, 2012 Galerie Philippe Gelot / Paris, 2012 Galerie éphémère / Paris, 2012 Mairie du IIIe / Paris, 2012 L’Aménagerie / Moulins, 2012 Galerie Bleus et originaux / Lyon, 2012 4bis / Rennes, 2012 Espace Harteloire / Brest, 2011 Galerie Bleus et originaux / Lyon, 2011 L’Aménagerie / Moulins, 2011 Eighty One / Lyon, 2011 Médiathèque / Malakoff, 2002 Médiathèque / Malakoff, 2001 MBA institute / Paris, 1993 painting
[group exhibition]
Partitions urbaines vol. 6 à la Galerie Carole Kvasnevski / Paris, déc. 2017 « La fabrique des images #5 » à la galerie Philippe Gelot / nov. Paris, 2017 « Divergences » à la galerie Simon&Roth / Paris, oct. 2017 Festival AVC / Chelles, sept. 2017 « Strokar » à la galerie Agnès B. / Paris, sept. 2017
Exposition collective à la Dépôt gallery / Athènes, 2017 « L’homme et la machine » à la galerie JPHT / Paris, 2017 Exposition dessin à la la galerie Daki / Sao Paulo, 2017 Custom Label Emmaüs / Paris, 2017 « Utopies urbaines #2 » à la galerie Amarrage / Saint-Ouen, 2017 « Letzte Ausstellung » à la Kunsthaus an der Alster / Hambourg, 2017 « Rehab #2 » à la Maison des arts et métiers / Paris, 2017 « Newarty’s à Rehab » à la Maison des arts et métiers / Paris, 2017 « Constellation » à la galerie Philippe Gelot / Paris, 2017 Festiwall #2 / Paris, 2017 « Hommage à Gainsbourg » aux Puces / Saint-Ouen, 2017 Urban culture / Moulins, 2017 Exposition collective à « L’Atelier »/ Montreuil, 2017 Galerie Strokar / Bruxelles, 2017 « Exposition Substreets » à la Sub Galeria / Sao Paulo, 2017 « Hommage à Gainsbourg » à la Friche / Paris, 2017 « 30 ans » à la galerie Philippe Gelot / Paris, 2017 « Geometrik » au Soulbarex / Rennes, 2017 « Spray against Cancer » à la galerie Martine Ehmer/ Bruxelles, 2017 « Spray against Cancer » / Andenne, 2017 « Street art week » à la galerie JPHT / Paris, 2017 « Jed Voras Custom X Emmaüs » au Avenir Dreams Corner / Nanterre, 2017 « 30ans » à la galerie Philippe Gelot / Paris, 2017 Exposition de Noël à la Galerie 203 / Montréal, 2016 Festival d'art contemporain et du design au Cameroun / Kribi, déc. 2016 "Le classique c'est pour les vieux" au 59 / Paris, 2016 "Le prix du graffiti" à la Manufacture 111 / Paris, 2016 84e salon d'art d’Étampes / Étampes, 2016 "FRAUENbilder" à la Kunsthaus an der Alster / Hambourg, 2016 Festival AVC / Chelles, 2016 « Pop is popular! » à la galerie JPHT / Paris, 2016 Graff-Ik’art / Lyon, 2016 « No game » à la No Galerie / Rennes, 2016 Secret Walls / Paris, 2016 Galerie 203 / Montréal, 2016 Crédit Municipal / Paris, 2016 « La fabrique des images #4 » à la galerie Philippe Gelot / Paris, 2016 Strokar / Bruxelles, 2016 FestiWall / Paris, 2016 Veines urbaines / Rouen, 2016 « L’art au stade #2 » / Bordeaux, 2016 « La fabrique des images #3 » à la galerie Philippe Gelot / Paris, 2016 Galerie JPHT / Paris, 2016 Studio Longboard / Hambourg, 2016 Bateau culturel MS Stubnitz / Hambourg, 2016 « L’art au stade » / Bordeaux, 2016 « La fabrique des images #2» à la galerie Philippe Gelot / Paris, 2016 Les artistes de Newarty’s au 59 Rivoli / Paris, 2016 « Inside out » à la Depôt art gallery / Athènes, 2015 « La fabrique des images » à la galerie Philippe Gelot / Paris, 2015 « One shot » avec la galerie The Wall / Paris, 2015 « Tous unis » à la galerie Philippe Gelot / Paris, 2015 « Parcours Aucwin » à la galerie K / Le Mans, 2015 Exposition « On a tous besoin d’un mur » / Mantes-la-Jolie, 2015 Exposition à la galerie Les mémoires de Jacqmotte / Bruxelles, 2015 « Maudite soit la guerre » au Lavomatik / Paris, 2015 « Versa Versa » à la Bab’s galerie / Paris, 2015 « Parcours Aucwin » à la galerie Amarrage / Saint-Ouen, 2015 Exposition collective à L’œil ouvert (République) / Paris, 2015 « Street spirit » à la galerie Jed Voras / Paris, 2015 Festival AVC / Chelles, 2015 « Dirty Harry vol. 2 » au 59 Rivoli / Paris, 2015 Galerie La Bohème / Deauville, 2015
Exposition collective à L’œil ouvert (Saint-Paul) / Paris, 2015 Partitions urbaines vol. 4 au Lavomatik / Paris, 2015 Exposition Batman à la Maison Muller/ Paris, 2015 Secret Walls X L’œil ouvert / Paris, 2015 Exposition « La boite à films » à la galerie Knafo / Paris, 2015 « Ecritur’Baines » au Centre M. Ravel / Paris, 2015 « Street Fans » au Musée de l’éventail / Paris, 2015 « Utopies urbaines » à la galerie Amarrage / Saint-Ouen, 2015 « 2 l’art dans la rue » / Pacé, 2015 Galerie Nunc / Paris, 2015 Nantes art fair / Nantes, 2015 Galerie Lavomatik / Paris, 2015 Partitions urbaines vol. 3 au 59 Rivoli / Paris, 2014 Urban gallery / Paris, 2014 Pop art store / Paris, 2014 1m2 à l’Elabo / Rennes, 2014 Partitions urbaines vol. 2 au Forum Vauréal / Vauréal, 2014 Salon du Polar / Cognac, 2014 Festival Burlesque / Montréal, 2014 Galerie Bab’s / Bagnolet, 2014 82e salon d’art d’Étampes / Étampes, 2014 Exposition à l’Omnibus / Belle Île en Mer, 2014 Espace Pierre Cardin / Paris, 2014 Galerie Cognac art / Cognac, 2014 Galerie Republiq’Art / Hyères, 2014 Les artistes de la galerie 203 / Montréal, 2014 « NocturneArt » à la galerie 203 / Montréal, 2014 Galerie Angle3 / Quimper, 2014 Galerie Lavomatik / Paris, 2014 L’onyx / Bagnolet, 2014 Prieuré de Locmaria / Quimper, 2014 La Friche de Belleville / Paris, 2014 La Nuit de l’Architecture / Tournai, 2014 Art Mature vol. IV / Issy les Moulineaux, 2014 Galerie Napoléon / Paris, 2014 Galerie Philippe Gelot / Paris, 2014 Galerie 203 / Montréal, 2014 Exposition « Venus project » au Crock n’ Roll / Lyon, 2013 Alliance Française / Lodz, 2013 Show Room à la One eye open Gallery / New York, 2013 « Faces and Cie » au 59 Rivoli / Paris, 2013 Galerie 203 / Montréal, 2013 Next door gallery / Genève, 2013 Maison de l’Europe / Nantes, 2013 Institut des Beaux-Arts / Athènes, 2013 « Semaine du dessin » Galerie Philippe Gelot / Paris, 2013 « Influences africaines » à la Bab’s galerie / Bagnolet, 2013 « Urban stories » aux Mains d’œuvres / Saint-Ouen, 2013 Tanja, street art / Tanger, 2013 Galerie 35 / Prague, 2013 Galerie Ophite / Paris, 2013 Galerie Collectie / Paris, 2013 Galerie d’art / Gap, 2013 Galerie Philippe Gelot / Paris, 2013 Show room Tartamudo / Paris, 2012 Galerie Ligne 13 / Paris, 2012 Le Stendhal / Paris, 2012 Galerie The Square / Genève, 2012 Galerie Spacejunk / Lyon, 2012 Galerie Napoléon / Paris, 2012 « Dirty Harry vol. 1 » au 59 Rivoli / Paris, 2012 Galerie Bear / Uzès, 2012
Belle air / Marseille, 2012 Festival des cultures urbaines / Paris, 2012 Festival Extramur’O / Fontenay-sur-Loing, 2012 Galerie Artkraft / Paris, 2012 Espace Reine de Saba / Paris, 2012 Hôtel de ville / Le Relecq Kehruon, 2012 Exposition « Urbi art » / Issy les Moulineaux, 2012 Tag my Giant Bag / Paris, 2012 La Gallery / Montréal, 2011 Galerie Spacejunk / Lyon, 2011 Galerie Napoléon / Paris, 2011 Galerie 770 / Paris, 2011 et 2012 Galerie La Bohème / Deauville, 2011 Tag my Bag with Eastpak / 2011 Art360 / Rennes, 2011 La Gallery / Montréal, 2010 La Gallery / Paris, 2010 Galerie Spacejunk / Lyon, 2010 Café Dune / Paris, 2010 Espace Chapon, Paris Graffiti : 15 peintres / Paris, 1992