Born in Essaouira, Mustapha Asmah fits into the tradition of the "singular artists" of his city—self-taught creators whose work emerges from the collective memory, mystical atmosphere, and cultural blending of Essaouira. His art is nourished by an imaginary that combines Arab, Berber, and African influences, expressed through stylized forms, human or animal figures, vibrant colors, and intuitive energy. Mustapha Asmah is among the artists highlighted since the early days of the Damgaard Gallery. Founded in 1988 in Essaouira by Danish Frédéric Damgaard, the gallery was a pioneer—the first in the city—in promoting local naïve, popular, and spontaneous art. Located across from the clock, at the gates of the medina, the Damgaard Gallery provided a stable and respectful exhibition space for Essaouira artists, allowing their works to reach a national and international audience. Thanks to this gallery, painters and sculptors often from modest backgrounds—farmers, fishermen, artisans—were able to have their work recognized and disseminated beyond traditional circuits. As an artist supported by this institution, Mustapha Asmah belongs to a strong cultural heritage, that of a mythical and inspiring city, which has become a center of art and creative freedom. Owning a work by Asmah means not only acquiring a vibrant painting—imbued with the raw emotion, memory, and imagination of Essaouira—but also a fragment of the history of Essaouira art, made accessible through the Damgaard Gallery. This provenance adds historical and cultural value to the work, particularly appreciated by collectors of naïve art, outsider art, or Moroccan contemporary art. Type: Oil Country of origin: France Genre: Outsider art, Naïve art Features: Signed Theme: Portrait, Self-portrait