Youssef Douieb

"The drawings I find most interesting are made with my eyes closed."

Youssef Douieb

Born in 1965 in Casablanca, Youssef Douieb is a self-taught artist whose intuitive and spontaneous approach places him in the lineage of great masters of abstract expressionism, such as Willem de Kooning. “The drawings I find most interesting are made with my eyes closed,” he confesses, revealing his penchant for surrendering to the gesture and embracing the surprise of the result.

Coming from a family rich in artistic talent, with cousins and a brother established as painters in Europe, Douieb developed an early passion for geometric abstraction. As a child, he spent hours observing the sliding doors of his bedroom closet, imagining silhouettes of New York City skyscrapers—an enduring source of inspiration in his work. This fascination with architecture is also evident in a series dedicated to the Barceló Hotel, an iconic building in Casablanca, whose elongated, modern lines resonate with his artistic vision.

His works, defined by vibrant acrylic color fields and crisp, precise forms, exude a distinct sculptural quality. Surrounded in his studio by works from Moroccan masters such as Mohamed Melehi, Mohamed Chebâa, and Mohamed Hamidi, Youssef Douieb draws from a rich artistic tradition while asserting his own unique voice.

For Douieb, painting is more than a form of expression—it is a visceral passion and an essential need. Freed from constraints, he aims above all to brighten the viewer’s daily life, offering moments of color, balance, and joy through his art.

Download Biography