Hassan Hajjaj: his colorful portraits of "Rock Stars" on display at the Musée de la Musique

Well known to contemporary art lovers, the versatile artist Hassan Hajjaj is highlighted in a new exhibition to be seen at the Musée de la musique - Cité de la musique from Tuesday, September 22, 2026 to Sunday, April 25, 2027. Titled "Hassan Hajjaj: My Rock Stars", this installation offers a chance to learn more about the making of the artist’s work, the talented photographer, stylist and multimedia maker, as well as about his origins and his hybrid cultural references.

Born in 1961 in Larache, Morocco, Hassan Hajjaj grew up in London. The artist, drawing his inspiration from his Moroccan heritage and the multicultural fabric of the capital, is best known for his iconic and colorful portraits. When it comes to his subjects, Hassan Hajjaj has no particular preference, staging everything from everyday figures to international stars, including his friend Rachid Taha. The "Rock Stars" on view at the Musée de la musique are captured by Hassan Hajjaj, alongside other figures such as the Jamaican musician and producer Lee Scratch Perry, the rapper Tierra Whack, the hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, the legendary Malian duo Mariam & Amadou, the Nigerian singer and guitarist Keziah Jones, the American DJ Marshmello, the Franco-Japanese singer and flutist Maïa Barouh, the rapper and producer Busta Rhymes, and the Moroccan Gnawa musician Hassan Hakmoun.

Nearly 40 portraits are on display on the walls of the installation. For each photograph, the subjects were captured in outfits designed by Hassan Hajjaj, blending traditional Moroccan dress with urban fashion. Every detail has been thought through, from the glasses to the socks to the hats. The portraits are then framed with carefully chosen objects, like those famous colorful tin cans sold in local groceries. Through his compositions, Hassan Hajjaj blurs clichés by mixing Africa’s culture of reclamation with pop culture. It’s no accident that his friend Rachid Taha nicknamed him “Andy Wahloo”!

Beyond the artist's iconic portraits, the exhibition also features a series of outfits worn by some of the photographed models, sure to delight fashion enthusiasts. There's also an old motorcycle referenced to his Kesh Angels series dedicated to Marrakech's female riders, as well as vinyl records by artists who inspired Hassan Hajjaj, such as Stevie Wonder and Jaco Pastorius. Musicians can also admire, along the route, several traditional instruments from the Museum of Music, such as this striking barrel drum or the guembri lute.

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To make the immersion complete, the Cité de la Musique has tapped Georgiana Savuta-Idier, who for the occasion delivers a meticulously crafted scenography that echoes the détournement that runs through Hassan Hajjaj's entire body of work. With stacked beverage crates repurposed as display platforms, the museum’s dedicated spaces at the Musée de la Musique become a large, pop Moroccan living room.

For Hassan Hajjaj, music is an indispensable through-line, spanning 1980s reggae and hip-hop to Gnawa traditions, and peppered with world icons. The show aims to be as much a sonic experience as a visual one, with a musical collaboration by Acid Arab. This soundtrack, drawing on Maghrebi popular music, electronic textures and Arab-world musical traditions, runs in perfect harmony with the photographer’s visual imagination.

In the end, the exhibition "Hassan Hajjaj : My Rock Stars" offers a striking immersion into the photographer, stylist, and multimedia artist's singular body of work. Far more than a simple survey of photography, the installation carries visitors from the artist's native Morocco to the vibrant music scene of London, and also introduces his famous series devoted to music stars. Each portrait is accompanied by a wall label that revisits the encounter between the subject and the photographer.

Music obviously holds a central place here. You can easily linger for a long spell at the Museum of Music, admiring these stunning portraits by Hassan Hajjaj while listening to the soundtrack crafted by Acid Arab. Several videos are on view along the route, including the one shown at the very end of the exhibition featuring musicians from My Rockstars Experimental 1 & 2. A word of advice: take your time and remember to strike a pose before you leave. The Cité de la Musique has had the bright idea of installing a backdrop in the style Hassan Hajjaj is known for in his famous portraits. Accessories are available for visitors, so you just need to pull out your phone to capture the moment!

Join us from September 22, 2026, to April 25, 2027, at the Musée de la musique - Cité de la musique to experience this exhibition that blends visual and sonic elements. Note that a free, reservation-only meetup with Hassan Hajjaj is scheduled for October 31, 2026. Additionally, Acid Arab will perform at the Cité de la musique on Wednesday, March 10, 2027.