Bedwork, Men in the Sun

SOUFIANE ABABRI

Soufiane Ababri is renowned for eye-catching homoerotic drawings of men, which depict a flourishing and euphoric queer subculture. After receiving his MA from L’École Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 2014, he has exhibited in Berlin, Brussels, and Istanbul. “Bedworks” (2016-), his most acclaimed series, reflects his interest in the nuances of masculinity and intimacy. Portraits of men are rendered in colored pencil, conveying their subjects in energetic colors. Ababri draws on his life as a gay Moroccan immigrant in Europe with scenes imbued with humor and tenderness. While best known for his drawings, Ababri also works in sculpture, film, and performance. His work is in the collections of FRAC Poitou-Charentes and Musée d’art contemporain du Val-de-Marne (MAC /VAL), Vitry-sur-Seine, both in France.