The article profiles Selma Feriani, a Tunisian gallerist who opened a new purpose-built gallery in the industrial El Kram district of Tunis in January 2024. Designed with architect Chacha Atallah, the three-story space features a concrete exterior referencing traditional Tunisian hand-application techniques and a garden of olive, palm, and orange trees. Feriani, who previously ran a gallery in London's Mayfair, returned to Tunisia after the Revolution to contribute to the country's cultural renaissance. The gallery currently hosts simultaneous exhibitions: Nadia Ayari's paintings of menacing plants and Nidhal Chamekh's "Frictions," part of his broader historical project "Et si Carthage…" exploring Mediterranean power dynamics.
This matters because it highlights the organic, ground-up development of Tunis's contemporary art scene, which operates without government support and relies on individual initiative. Feriani's gallery represents a significant investment in local infrastructure, aiming to anchor Tunisian artists in international conversations while maintaining strong local roots. Her background in finance and her participation in major art fairs like Frieze, Art Basel Paris, and Abu Dhabi Art demonstrate a sustainable model where market sales fund the gallery's mission. The article underscores how a handful of dedicated cultural entrepreneurs are building durable institutions in North Africa, challenging the region's underrepresentation in the global art world.