Born in 1967, Khalil Nemmaoui discovered photography and the magic of the film developing process in his early years. At the age of 12, he was already making pinholes to capture light. Following scientific studies in Morocco and abroad, Khalil Nemmaoui decided to devote his time exclusively to photography. He worked as a photographer for the early 90s magazines and held his first solo exhibition; “Casablanca Fragments d’imaginaire” at the Casablanca French Institute in 1996. Khalil Nemmaoui then turned to humanist photography before moving back to landscapes. He published Portfolio in “La Revue noire” in 1998, and has taken part in several group and solo exhibitions. In 2009, his most iconic series “La Maison de l’Arbre” (The Tree House) was featured at Musée du Quai Branly's Photoquai biennale and at the Caroussel du Louvre as part of “Paris Photo”. He went on to take part in numerous residencies and exhibitions, including in 2010 and 2012 at the “Shart” Gallery. He thus exhibited his work at prestigious festivals both in Europe and the United States. His series “La Maison de l’Arbre” won the Francophonie award at the International Photography Encounters of Bamako in 2011 and was nominated for the Pictet Prize. Khalil Nemmaoui took part in several artist residencies, including at “La Cité des Arts” in Paris in 2010, and the Head Land Center for the Arts in San Fransisco in 2014. Khalil Nemmaoui's photographic work is represented in various collections, including those of the Mohammed VI Modern and Contemporary Art Museum, Fondation CDG, Fondation Attijari Wafabank, Fondation Alliances and the Arab World Institute in Paris.
Khalil Nemmaoui se penche ensuite sur la photographie humaniste avant de revenir vers le paysage. Il publie Portfolio dans « La Revue Noire » en 1998, et participe à plusieurs expositions collectives et individuelles. En 2009, sa série la plus emblématique « La Maison de l’Arbre » est présentée à la biennale Photoquai du Musée du Quai Branly et au Caroussel du Louvre pour le « Paris Photo ». Il enchaîne ensuite des résidences et des expositions, notamment en 2010 et 2012 à la Galerie « Shart ». Il expose ainsi son travail dans des festivals prestigieux en Europe et aux Etats Unis. Sa série La Maison de l’Arbre remporte le prix de la Francophonie aux Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie à Bamako en 2011 et est nominé pour le Prix Pictet.
Khalil Nemmaoui a participé à plusieurs résidences d’artistes dont « La Cité des Arts » à Paris en 2010, et le Head Land Center for the Arts à San Fransisco en 2014. Le travail photographique de khalil Nemmaoui est présent dans plusieurs collections dont celles du Musée Mohamed VI d’Art Moderne et Contemporain, la Fondation CDG, la Fondation Attijari Wafabank, la Fondation Alliances, l’Institut du Monde Arabe à Paris.