BIO

Saffya Alaoui’s work is an exploration of the four pillars of existence: the divine in God, the beauty in nature, the complexity of relationships, and the truth in our feelings.  Saffya is a self-taught French artist, now based in Cambridge, UK, whose work is a visceral and metaphysical exploration of humanity. Working primarily in oil, her practice is a deeply personal inquiry that uses a potent symbolic language to challenge viewers to contemplate who they are.

Her background in literature informs a process that is a form of alchemy. In a rhythmic, almost ritualistic practice, she builds up texture, creating painted surfaces with a tangible relief that catches light and casts shadows. This physicality is not mere decoration; it is the substance of her spiritual journey. From these richly textured grounds and colours emerge dynamic movements and biomorphic forms—shapes that feel both ancient and newborn, embodying the full spectrum of human emotion, from joy and serenity to anger and anxiety. These forms twist and merge into a unique visual language that connects all her work.

This synthesis of movement of religious and natural motifs taps into a collective unconscious, echoing threads from our most foundational stories. Ultimately, Saffya's work transcends intellectual analysis to evoke primal spiritual feelings. She creates sacred spaces where paint, form, and symbol converge, inviting a silent, potent dialogue with the divine in nature, the resonance of ancient symbols, and the depths of the self.