The Art
Art has always been at the core of what we do. Our original name - ‘Riad El Fenn’ - means ‘house of art’ and although our name has evolved as the hotel has grown, creativity and culture remain a key thread in the fabric of life here. You’ll find art on the walls of course, but also on floors and shelves, in both public spaces as well as bedrooms. Colour, art, creativity. These are the heartbeats of life here at El Fenn.
PERMANENT COLLECTION
When El Fenn opened in 2004, our co-owner Vanessa Branson brought pieces from her personal art collection to hang in the hotel including work by William Kentridge, Sir Terry Frost and David Shrigley. As the years passed and we forged increasingly strong links with the Moroccan, and African, artistic communities, new pieces were added to our ever expanding collection. Today these include works by some of Morocco’s most talented contemporary artists including Hassan Hajjaj, Yto Barrada, Ali Maimoun and Abelmalik Berhiss. Young Moroccan talents are also showcased including Laila Alaoui, who believed photography could be used for social activism and intimately captured the complexity and dignity of her countrymen and women in her portrait series Les Marocains. But we’ve also made sure to explore the art of Africa as a whole because the continent is home to one of the world’s most dynamic artistic scenes. Pieces include work by Kenyan photographer Thandiwe Muriu and Ivory Coast artist Joana Choumali.
TEMPORARY COLLECTION
In addition to our permanent collection, we also host twice-yearly temporary exhibitions in partnership with Marrakech art galleries to promote the work of Moroccan artists. For our current exhibition, we're partnering with Galerie Siniya28, a gallery in Gueliz which was founded in 2016 by Hadia Temli and is dedicated to new and emerging artists. To coincide with the 2026 edition of the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, renowned Moroccan artist Rita Alaoui has painted a series of large-scale murals onto the walls of our main entrance corridors. They backdrop The Inner Garden - seven paintings that celebrate the power of nature. Stepping into El Fenn, you’ll be immersed in her colourful world as you move between interior and exterior space, real and imagined gardens.
The INTERIORS
We don’t do bland beige here at El Fenn. To really experience Marrakech is to be immersed in its colour, vibrancy and artisanal heritage and our interiors reflect this. Think saturated colours, hand-crafted details and bedrooms filled with art & pieces of classic mid-century design. There’s something to see everywhere you look and we hope you leave feeling refreshed - and hopefully a little inspired.
With much thanks to our incredible photographers:
Moggi Studio, Cecile Treal, Igor Demba, David Loftus, Joanna Vestey, Kasia Gatkowska, Cecile Perrinet Ihermitte, Dan Hack, Mitchell van Voorbergen
Drop in to see us
If you would like to visit El Fenn you are most welcome. Take a look in our boutique and then head to the rooftop for the best views over the red city. Stop with us for drinks, lunch and dinner.
Message us
Just a 5-minute stroll from Jemaa El Fna or take a taxi direct to our door, we are perfectly situated wherever you may be in the city. If you want to drop in for drinks or a bite to eat, get in touch to book a table.
