The Petit Palais in Paris is hosting an extraordinary free exhibition featuring Franco-Algerian painter Bilal Hamdad, whose contemporary works dialogue with masterpieces by Velázquez, Courbet, and Manet. The 37-year-old prodigious artist presents 21 paintings in his first museum exhibition, titled "Paname," which runs from October 17, 2025, to February 8, 2026.
Never before has a hot corn vendor been seen at the Petit Palais. Standing with his cart at the Barbès-Rochechouart metro exit, he serves as the contemporary counterpart to the bustling Les Halles, the belly of Paris immortalized by Léon Lhermitte in 1895 on a massive 13-by-20-foot canvas – the largest work in the Paris Fine Arts Museum. Elsewhere in the exhibition, Deliveroo couriers are reflected in the mirrors of Parisian cafés, while a young Black boy on his scooter stares out like a modern-day little prince.
Hamdad, who graduated from the Fine Arts schools of both Sidi Bel Abbès in Algeria and Paris, magnificently integrates his works within the permanent collections, creating a stunning dialogue between today's Paris and the old masters. Through his large-format paintings filled with artistic references and quotations, this Franco-Algerian artist builds dizzying bridges between past and present. His technical virtuosity and emotional depth in rendering every lost gaze, fleeting silhouette, and play of light – whether on a carafe, a bald skull, or a balustrade – approaches genius.
The artist's process begins with endless photography of the metro, smoky bars, and crowds. Then, in his Pantin studio, he composes his large canvases with stunning virtuosity and the patience of a goldsmith. On his painting "Paname," begun in February specifically for this exhibition, the oil paint is still fresh. This naturalism that delights the eye conceals an erudite treasure hunt of references.
A former soccer player, Hamdad dribbles from one great master to another with remarkable skill. During his residency at Casa de Velázquez in Madrid, he spent hours at the Prado Museum, particularly studying Diego Velázquez. "Las Meninas," an obsession of his, hovers over "Reflections" (2024) and inhabits "The Mirage" (2021). In "Right Bank," an advertising poster resurrects the nude model from Gustave Courbet's "The Artist's Studio," while "Odalisque" (2023) sits alongside works by François Boucher.
Like the Impressionists of the 19th century who scrutinized their society, Hamdad's painting reveals truth by making visible the invisible – those who pass through train stations and who some might dismiss as "nothing." They are servers working in shadows, cleaning staff, and street vendors. His work captures the reflection of our era with profound authenticity.
Most boldly, Hamdad dares to create collisions between art history and current tragedies, notably in his series honoring migrants. In these works, floating bodies – his friends whom he had pose at the Bois de Vincennes – evoke John Everett Millais' "Ophelia." This remarkable demonstration shows that great painting can capture our epoch better than any other medium.
The exhibition offers special guided tours with the artist on November 28 and December 19, 2025, at 6:30 PM, with a third date planned for January 2026. These exceptional visits, led by Hamdad alongside curator Sixtine de Saint-Léger, provide privileged moments where the artist presents his works and shares behind-the-scenes insights into the exhibition. The Petit Palais is located at Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris, and more information is available on their website.
