Jaber El Mahjoub

Jaber El Mahjoub was born in 1938 in a family of shepherds in M’Saken, Tunisia. His childhood was perilous as his mother passed away when he was only six. His sister brought him up without any financial support, for him to go to school and the possibility to learn to read and write. Early 1958, he decided to move to Marseilles and become a baker. Two years later, he headed for Paris. Gifted with his hands and his voice, he created sculptures and simultaneously composed, wrote and played songs, and recorded 45 rpm at Pathe Marconi. A wealthy American woman was surprised by his work, she took him to USA, married him and thrust his career forward, he became famous worldwide. Between intervals, he composes 3D works in paper mache, which are unique, intriguing and bewitching, with a lot of care, passion and rigor. A true demiurge, he transposes his clay in charcoal in the form of a bird, fish or a flower. His baker profession helps him in this artistic process: firstly he uses his hands to give body to the form and the bakes the dough. He adds colors to his artistic creations which is aesthetically pleasing. Jaber El Mahjoub has exhibited his work in one of the most famous galleries of San Francisco. The artist federated all the "flower power" art lovers. He came back to Paris and exhibited at the American Center of Artists in 1977. He has participated in several prestigious exhibitions with friends and collectors. His work has been bought by several museums dedicated to raw or outsider art. A shadowy figure in the limelight, his popularity in the art market has increased. Among 800 candidates at the Plainfield Art Festival, the artist won the first prize in painting.