Khalid El Krboubi

Decorative painter

Omar Chennafi©Michelangelo Foundation

Antique decors inspiring a modern Moroccan aesthetic

Khalid uses cedar wood as it is solid and fragrant
He is always striving for the highest quality in his work
He puts his energy into celebrating shapes and colours

Khalid El Krboubi is known as a cabinetmaker and wood decorator in Fez medina. Floral decors of all kinds are his speciality and he has a great sense for shapes, colours and designs. In his work, Khalid mixes traditional ornamentation patterns with modern motifs and in every piece he makes a stand for lightness and creativity. He is very involved in his art, working to perfectly reproduce antique decors found in books and marrying them with contemporary inspiration. Each time one enters Khalid’s workshop he is painting. He uses very thin brushes, with a steady hand and highly precise gesture.

Interview

Omar Chennafi©Michelangelo Foundation

Omar Chennafi©Michelangelo Foundation

Why did you start to work in this traditional field in Morocco?: My older brother and I learnt our crafts from a great maalem when we were teenagers. We enjoyed going to the workshop together. My brother is now specialised in wood carving, and he has his own workshop. My passion is more about wood painting, reproducing antique traditional decors and creating contemporary ones.
Where do you nourish your inspiration?: I spend as much time as possible in the souks and in the closed historical homes of Fez. Fez was the capital of Morocco for 12 centuries and all the most important people in the religious, political, and cultural fields had huge houses in Fez. But very little can be seen from the outside. If you push doors, however, you can find hidden treasures.
Is there a special memory in your professional path so far?: I remember very precisely my happiness and proudness the first time I succeeded in making a proper 'bartal' wooden shape. Bartal means bird in Arabic, and it is a very special shape made of hundreds of different small painted pieces of wood. It is meant to be fixed above entrance door frames. They require a huge deal of skill.
Could your craft be considered in danger?: I would not say that this craft is in danger as it is extremely popular in Morocco. But precision and quality could be in danger. I fight against pieces crafted quickly and badly for tourists. They are very damaging for Morocco’s image.

Khalid El Krboubi is a master artisan: he began his career in 2006 and he started teaching in 2017