Born in 1951 in Rabat, Mehdi Qotbi is widely regarded as one of the leading figures of contemporary Moroccan art. Coming from a modest background, he discovered his artistic sensitivity at a young age during his time at the military high school in Kenitra, where drawing became a defining anchor. This early revelation led him to join the School of Fine Arts in Rabat, where he deepened his relationship with painting and gradually affirmed his vocation.
In 1969, he moved to France to pursue further studies and graduated from the School of Fine Arts in Toulouse, becoming one of the youngest artists to receive the diploma in the country. He later continued his training at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Between 1978 and 2006, he taught visual arts at the La Rochefoucauld high school in Paris, balancing his role as an educator with a continuously evolving artistic practice.
Mehdi Qotbi’s work is defined by a distinctive visual language, where precision, balance, and a strong sense of rhythm form an immediately recognizable artistic signature. His trajectory, shaped by determination and openness, has earned him international recognition. Today, he is considered one of the most influential Moroccan artists of his generation, with works that continue to resonate with diverse audiences both in Morocco and abroad.