Algerian painter and artist Bilal Hamdad chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos about the 2026 L’Alliance New York.
How did you experience being part of L’Alliance New York 2026?
It was a wonderful experience for me. It was also my first time in New York with my wife, so I couldn’t have imagined a better context in which to discover the city! Taking part in this event, meeting so many people, and experiencing the energy of L’Alliance New York made this first visit even more special.
Why is this event so important to you?
I think it is important because this event creates opportunities for people to meet and exchange ideas around culture and creativity. For me, it was also a wonderful opportunity to discover L’Alliance New York and to build new connections between France and the United States.
How did you feel sharing the stage with Marion Cotillard?
Marion Cotillard is a great artist, so it was obviously an honor for me to share that moment with her. I also had the opportunity to speak with her briefly, and I found her to be very kind and friendly.
What inspires you every day as an artist and painter?
As a painter, I am mainly inspired by what surrounds me. I take a lot of photographs and observe people, streets, and everyday situations. I always ask myself: how can I find a reason to paint? Very often, a painting begins with a very simple moment. And in New York, I feel there is an incredible potential for inspiration!
How do you feel about being part of this digital age?
I am very happy to be part of it. It is always interesting for me to see how my work can connect with different audiences and travel into new contexts.
What advice would you give to young artists and emerging creatives?
An artist’s work can take many years to find its place or to fully reveal its meaning. So, you have to be patient. And if you truly believe in what you are doing, you should never stop. Very often, it is with time that the work finds its true meaning.
What are your plans for the future?
I am currently preparing a solo exhibition scheduled for March at Galerie Templon in Paris. Also, in December, one of my paintings will also be exhibited at the Grand Palais as part of Oli’s Imaginary Museum, a project by the French rapper Oli.
What does the word “success” mean to you?
For me, success is above all a form of recognition. The journey has been long and not always easy, so being able to make a living from my work today and seeing that people believe in what I do makes me very proud.
I also think a lot about the people who trusted me and supported me from the very beginning. Success is never entirely an individual achievement.
What would you like to say to our readers about L’Alliance New York?
I would like to say that L’Alliance New York is a wonderful institution—very dynamic and ambitious. I was particularly impressed by its ability to bring together so many people and by everything it does to promote and keep French culture alive in New York.
Background on L’Alliance New York
L’Alliance New York is an independent, not-for-profit organization headquartered in NYC. They are committed to providing audience and students with engaging French language classes and audacious multi-disciplinary programming that celebrates the diversity of Francophone cultures and creativity around the world.
Their mission is to spread “Joie De Vivre.”
They are a welcoming and inclusive community for all ages and all backgrounds, where people can meet, learn, and explore the richness of our heritages and share new discoveries. They strive to amplify voices and build bridges from the entire francophone world to New York and beyond.
They are the leading educational, cultural, and arts institution where people from all over the world connect through our engaging and immersive French language classes and world-class cultural programming.
To learn more about L’Alliance New York, visit its official website and follow them on Instagram.
Read More: Marion Cotillard dazzles at the 2026 L’Alliance New York GALA.
