Hannah Traore Gallery is pleased to present multidisciplinary artist Hassan Hajjaj’s first solo exhibition at the gallery. The show, a collection of small-scale photographic portraits taken from 2000 to 2022, depicts figures who have crossed Hajjaj’s path across the globe. In brilliant color, accompanied by frames made of repurposed plastic floor mats, the exhibition stands as a testament to global connection. The breadth of Hajjaj’s chosen subjects, which spans artists, musicians, designers, and visionaries, underscores the warmth and vitality of the world’s many communities.

“Hannah and I share so much common ground, and I’m thrilled to bring this collage of dear friends and collaborators to the gallery and its audience,” said Hassan Hajjaj. “This exhibition is an opportunity to connect people across places and generations, a peep through the keyhole to another world.” This exhibition follows Hajjaj’s participation in the gallery’s inaugural group installation, which Hassan curated along with Miriam Yin.

People of My Time takes its title from the ethos of Hajjaj’s practice, for which each portrait captures a moment, person, or story worth sharing. Subjects such as model Imaan Hammam, artist Che Lovelace, DJ Honey Dijon, Moroccan actress Sarah Perles, and Nigerian musician Afrikan Boy are featured in his circle of muses. He interlaces time-honored Moroccan traditions and heritage with the pop iconography of London. The portrait frames recall the bustling markets and eclectic gathering spots of Medina. They anchor the figures in a tactile, lived reality, while their attire and demeanor—embellished sneakers, layered prints, keffiyehs—convey a contemporary spirit. Instead of a static encounter, each photograph-and-frame ensemble is a nod to the fluidity of cultural identity, and a bid to embrace the improvised harmonies that give life its flavor.

Alongside the portraits, Hajjaj will also recreate his Marrakesh tearoom “Jajjah” within the walls of the gallery, offering a communal celebratory space for gathering. The Jajjah tea brand, a collaboration between the artist and Amine el Baroudi, offers a sensory journey of seven teas representing the seven saints of Marrakesh. Much like how visitors of Morocco might seek baraka, or “divine favor,” the Jajjah tearoom offers a blessed pilgrimage across its blends, and features rising Moroccan artists on its packaging. The onsite Jajjah tearoom at Hannah Traore Gallery is an extension of Hajjaj’s colorful and familial universe.



This exhibition was made possible through the invaluable collaboration with Yossi Milo Gallery.