eL Seed

Born on August 21, 1981 in Le Chesnay, near Paris, to Tunisian parents originally from Gabès, eL Seed grew up in France speaking only the Tunisian dialect. In his teens, while reconnecting with his roots, he learned to read and write classical Arabic, developing a passion for traditional calligraphy that he merged with the energy of graffiti to invent what he calls 'calligraffiti'.

His first major artistic gesture in Tunisia came in January 2012, in the wake of the revolution, when he painted a 40-metre wall in the medina of Kairouan, inscribing a poem of resilience dedicated to those fighting against tyranny. Also in 2012, he covered the 57-metre minaret of the Jara Mosque in Gabès with a Quranic verse on human brotherhood — a work that circled the globe. His 'Lost Walls' project (2013-2014) took him across Tunisia to paint 24 walls in forgotten villages.

Recognized as one of the most influential artists of the Arab world, eL Seed was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2021. He received the International Award for Public Art 2019 for his work 'Perception' in Cairo, an anamorphic calligraphy spread across 50 buildings in the Zaraeeb district. Based in Dubai, he continues to carry messages of coexistence and peace through monumental frescoes on every continent.