Tarek

Tarek Ben Yakhlef, internationally known as Tarek, is a pioneering French multidisciplinary artist whose three-decade career masterfully bridges urban art, contemporary painting, and comic books. Rising to prominence at age twenty with the publication of Paris Tonkar, the very first European book dedicated to graffiti, he has continually pushed artistic boundaries across mediums like canvas, concrete, and video using acrylics, inks, and markers. A central pillar of his instantly recognizable style is his deep exploration of identity and transformation through masks and totemic figures, a fascination profoundly enriched by a 2017 immersion in Cameroon’s traditional cultures. He seamlessly merges these tribal motifs with urban influences, while also delving into postmodern abstraction and modern vanitas through his acclaimed Abstract Geometrik and Vincit Omnia Vanitas series.

Beyond the studio, Tarek brings his vibrant totemic universe directly to the public through monumental murals spanning the globe, from Brooklyn and Kribi to Berlin, Hamburg, and numerous French cities. In these public spaces, his protective figures create a striking dialogue with local history and urban architecture. A socially engaged creator who founded Paris Tonkar Magazine and whose comics are translated worldwide, Tarek has successfully navigated the space between underground experimentation and official recognition. Today, his globally appealing artwork is celebrated on every continent and is featured in prestigious institutional collections, including the MoLA Museum in Paris, the Shoes or No Shoes Museum in Belgium, Street Art City, and the French Red Cross.