We recently visited Marrakech to explore Africa’s artistic tapestry, which culminates at a citywide cartel of events and shows at the city’s galleries: including La Galerie 38, Loft, Malhoun, Comptoir des Mines, Galerie 127, L’blassa Art Space, and Galerie SINIYA28; with the main showcase of over 80 international artists of African diaspora taking place at the 1-54 Show at the stunning La Mamounia Hotel. In a significant development, 2024 saw the art fair expand its’ official physical footprint to the modern DaDa Gallery, as a commitment to deepening its involvement in the dynamic Marrakech art scene and celebrating local talent.
Although we have visited the city many times before, the disarmingly blue sky and palm trees which punctuate the hazy ochre hues of the low-rise buildings are always picturesque. It’s not as showy as Dubai or Oman, but it oozes more of an unpretentious honesty, which envelopes you like a comfortable and well-worn pair of Babouche slippers.
The friendly faces, daily chatter and sound of the Imam’s call to prayer add to the vibrant atmosphere and are part of the reason it has attracted so many creative types over the years.
During the swinging sixties, Marrakech went from being a sleepy town to one of the most hedonistic places in the world. It did not have many bars, so people met up in the most beautiful homes, and parties regularly featured the Gettys, Yves St Laurent and his husband Pierre, lingerie designer Fernando Sanchez, Loulou de La Falaise, Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger and architect Bill Willis who had decorated many of the rich and famous homes.
When Willis wasn’t snorting cocaine, munching hashish cookies with the writer William Burroughs, or dropping acid with Sanchez, he was designing flamboyant homes peppered with ornate tadelakt mosaics and majestic fireplaces, which have left a legacy thanks to their vibrant and recognisable, fusion style.
Our visit took us to a recently acquired IZZA Hotel which was tucked in a private gateway within the north-west quadrant of the Medina walls. Owned by Neon Adventures, the premises opened to the public in 2023.
Designed as a bolthole, rather than a party pad, the large footprint of the property has blended seven riads together, with each of the fourteen rooms named after one of the celebrities who embraced Marrakesh’s hedonistic lifestyle in the ’50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. From Jack Kerouac to Marianne Faithful, Grace Jones to Cecil Beaton, each boudoir is a nod to their personality – for example, the iconic Yves boasts a huge corner sofa, vintage desk, large bathtub, underfloor heating completed with a Juliet balcony overlooking the magnificent pool; whilst the IZZA room, based on the original owner, showcases classic Berber design represented in an impressive staggered staircase leading to the mezzanine level and full-size kitchenette.
Every nook and cranny of the affectionately monikered, ‘House of Friends’ has been fitted out with hand-selected pieces of mid-century vintage furniture. Lovingly created by one of Morocco’s most esteemed architects, Amine Kabbaj, he has ensured books are everywhere, with each room boasting relevant cultural tomes, or you could just curl up your feet and get lost for the afternoon in the bulging library.
The art collection at IZZA has been thoughtfully curated and sourced from a variety of partners including fellowship.xyz, a leading contemporary and digital art gallery, the prominent NFT collector Studio137, and the exclusive private collection of IZZA’s founders. Together, they form what is poised to be one of the most expansive permanent exhibitions of generative and digital art in the world, so you can expect a prolific and eclectic arrangement everywhere you look. Ranging from gritty black and white photographs by Brazilian photojournalist Sebastião Salgado, to Texan AI creator, Tyler Hobbs who blends algorithms to generate unique AI l imagery; to the mesmerising moving images by Ethiopian rising star, Yatreda who showcases work over eleven screens. In total, the art at the hotel is valued at over £5 million, and it can be enjoyed in every part of the hotel – from the larger-than-life portraits in reception by Leila Alaoui, who was killed in a 2016 terrorist attack in Burkina Faso, to the intriguing showcase in the cosy (Peloton bike included) gym – even the restrooms are not forgotten, so you may be forgiven for lingering.
In keeping with the design decadence, we would highly recommend enjoying the Bill Willis bar, which is named after the hero of the hour and pays tribute to Rick’s bar from the film Casablanca – one of his memorable creations; it is also a snapshot of Bill’s colourful history, boasting original photographs, artefacts and letters which were discovered in a suitcase after his death and framed for prosperity.
This ‘museum in the Medina’ has also established a Bill Willis Associate Artist Programme and has already launched with three more quarterly events scheduled for this year which will enable support for and continue working with credible artists to promote Marrakech as a hotbed of creative talent, and the property was a VIP host in conjunction with 1-54 Show and held a month-long 1-54 exhibition during February.
IZZA is committed to being a good neighbour to the local community and supports The Amal Women’s Training Centre and Restaurant – a non-profit organisation dedicated to the empowerment of disadvantaged women through hospitality job opportunities, and literacy training; and has connections with the Jarjeer Donkey Rescue, a charity which is committed to care for the injured and malnourished working mules and donkeys that are a crucial part of Moroccan society; as well as Pikala Bikes, which employs local youths in the tourism sector to become professional bicycle tour guides and opportunities to become bicycle mechanics.
Although if you’re really looking for a unique way to explore the city, the Marrakech Insiders Tour is a must. Offering the perfect opportunity to peel back the layers of Marrakech, each trip is customised so you can learn about the hidden gems tucked away from the tourist hotspots for a more authentic experience of the city. Plus you get to zoom around in an Instagrammable vintage sidecar or sit pillion with a qualified local guide.
IZZA – Rates start from €220 (approx. £200) to €840 (approx. £720) per room per night, including daily breakfast, airport transfer on arrival, and a 45-minute massage in IZZA’s in-house spa and hammam.
WORDS by Sara Darling
IMAGES by Felix Speller
