Moroccan-born and Camden Town raised Hassan Hajjaj is one the best known faces on the London Club scene. Back in the Eighties he promoted his R.A.P. clothing label and became well known for his diverse and always supa-hip parties in places like Leighton House in Kensington. Today, Hassan is globally known as an award winning photographer with a practice that centres around his North African roots as well as his experiences of a life well led in London and beyond. Those familiar with Hass’ work will be well attuned the His Rock Stars theme which came together beautifully at one wonderful Somerset House show where the life size portraits “came to life”, performed a song and then passed the mantle onto the next “rock star”.

His Rock Stars span all musical genres from Gnawa to hip hop to grime. His subjects are the are the underground makers – the musicians, the beatmakers, the wordsmiths, the film ‘n’ photographers, the fashion designers. That was the vibe at the Sotherby’s in New Bond Street on Monday for the opening of his current show My London Rock Stars, Ends To Estates. It was a stylish ‘n’ hip crowd where Soul II Soul’s Jazzie B, Femi from the Young Disciples, film maker Earle Sebastian and Galliano’s Uncle Big Man ‘n’ Demus rubbed shoulders with a vibrant new generation of creatives (plus a slew of potential buyers/collectors).

Hassan’s blend of portraiture, installation, performance, and fashion addresses art historical topics from Orientalism to contemporary fashion, pop art and consumerism. He has evolved a distictive visual formula that bridges cultures. You can only marvel at the images he has created, many of which were created outside of his shop at the bottom of Calvert Avenue in Shoreditch. After taking in this exhibition you will undoubtedly be sent off a mission to explore the music and art of those he has wikidly styled and photographed. To name but a few in the mix we have Central Cee and his Crew, Jorja Smith, Joy Crookes, Sebtabe, Our Motherland Collective, Atlantic Johnson, Buck Betty, Knucks and Ciesay. We are talking modern London… this is where modern street level British culture is happening and it’s a joy to behold. Give thanx that Hassan Hajjaj is documenting it and adding his own energetic and unique vision. Make sure to check it out.

Hassan Hajjaj: My London Rockstars, Ends to Estates is at Sotheby’s London, 34–35 New Bond Street, London W1A 2AA, UK

Hours:
13 July–7 August 2026
Monday–Friday | 9:00 AM–4:30 PM

Sotheby’s Talk | 21 July, 6:30PM

Hassan Hajjaj: My London Rockstars, Ends to Estates with artist Hassan Hajjaj, curator & writer Ekow Eshun and Modern & Contemporary African Art specialist Hannah O’Leary. Book via the website –https://www.sothebys.com/en/digital-catalogues/hassan-hajjaj-my-london-rockstars-ends-to-estates?locale=en