melek zertal

born 1994 in constantine, algeria


graduated in 2017 from La HEAR (Strasbourg, France) - illustration

Melek Zertal is a French Algerian illustrator and comic artist, based between Paris and California. She likes to create contemplative, slow reading narratives, all put together by a thorough work of image curation and by washed out pastel colors. She tries to find a way to convey atmospheres that words cannot express, fleeting moments, and unrequited loves. An unforeseen warming sunshine in the midst of winter, last words of a loved one, four hands forging a cherry pie simultaneously. Stories have no beginning, no end , we’re just thrown in the middle of a story that sounds vaguely familiar. 
However, through the dreamy haze-like and heartfelt narratives, societal dynamics always find a way to catch up to her characters. 


☆ The New-Yorker
☆ The New-York Times
☆ Gucci
☆ ELLE France
☆ Marie-Claire France
☆ SSENSE
☆ WeTransfer
☆ Tamburins
☆ KIBLIND
☆ Society
☆ The Atlantic
☆ The LA Times
☆ Editions Divergences
☆ La Régulière
☆ Lazy Oaf
☆ Wolf Kino
☆ Coeur Fleur
☆ Mother Jones
☆ RESCHA
☆ Malibu
☆ La Belle Affaire Productions

and more ☆ 


☆ Lagon Revue - Marécage, Plaine, Pluie
☆ Wobby
☆ LAAB
☆ Colorama Clubhouse
☆ Det Grymma Svärdet
☆ Flâneur


☆ Creative Review / Melek Zertal on how comics have shaped her illustrations 
☆ Manifesto 21 - Melek Zertal, Bande dessinée en non-mixité
☆ Vancouver Comics Art Festival / Interview with Kim Jooha
☆ It’s Nice That / Melek Zertal’s illustrations all feature different parts of herself
☆ It’s Nice That / Melek Zertal’s latest publication looks at the ‘in between scenes’ of an X-Files investigation
☆ KIBLIND / Les gens du mag 


2018 - solo show ‘94612’ at CCW - Oakland, California
2018 - solo show ‘wyd’ at Jacuzzi Club - Montréal, Canada
2022 - Colorama at Palazzio Benetton, Treviso, Italy
2023 - Art Volksmardorf, Leipzig, Germany
2024 - solo show ‘Lassitude Lounge’ at Galerie Arts Factory - Paris, France
2024 - ‘queer comix’ at M30 - Brussels, Belgium