We're excited to announce our second participation in the Cairo Art Fair, taking place in the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) from 7-11 February.
Our booth will showcase a curated selection of works by Xavier Puigmarti, Youssef Abdelke, Amr Al Ngmah, Sahar Dourgham, Hany El Sayed, Sami Elias, Sabah Naim, Marwa Talaat, Essam Alaa, Ahmed Yasser, and Alaa Ayman.
Xavier Puigmartí
Xavier Puigmartí lives and works between the Fayoum’s oasis in Egypt and Barcelona (Spain), where he was born in 1952. Fundamentally a painter, his art production also spans audiovisual creation and animation. He has held several exhibitions worldwide, such as in Switzerland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and Egypt.
Our booth will showcase a curated selection of works by Xavier Puigmarti, Youssef Abdelke, Amr Al Ngmah, Sahar Dourgham, Hany El Sayed, Sami Elias, Sabah Naim, Marwa Talaat, Essam Alaa, Ahmed Yasser, and Alaa Ayman.
Xavier Puigmartí
Xavier Puigmartí lives and works between the Fayoum’s oasis in Egypt and Barcelona (Spain), where he was born in 1952. Fundamentally a painter, his art production also spans audiovisual creation and animation. He has held several exhibitions worldwide, such as in Switzerland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and Egypt.
Youssef Abdelke
Born in Qamishli, Youssef Abdelké (1951) graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Damascus University in 1976. In the late 1970s, he moved to France where he graduated from the École Nationale Superieure des Beaux Arts and later from Paris XIII with a PhD in Fine Arts. However, he was later forbidden from leaving Syria after his passport was confiscated and he was arrested for his activism.
From cynically drawn figures to symbolic still lifes, Youssef Abdelke’s hyper-realistic charcoal works on paper evoke a nation at war as they attempt to “express the concerns and emotions of the ordinary Syrian citizen amid this huge river of blood,” says the artist, referring to his native country’s recent history. His carefully rendered still lifes are splattered with red paint and often include overt memento mori such as skulls, bones, and even a heart impaled on a nail.
Born in Qamishli, Youssef Abdelké (1951) graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Damascus University in 1976. In the late 1970s, he moved to France where he graduated from the École Nationale Superieure des Beaux Arts and later from Paris XIII with a PhD in Fine Arts. However, he was later forbidden from leaving Syria after his passport was confiscated and he was arrested for his activism.
From cynically drawn figures to symbolic still lifes, Youssef Abdelke’s hyper-realistic charcoal works on paper evoke a nation at war as they attempt to “express the concerns and emotions of the ordinary Syrian citizen amid this huge river of blood,” says the artist, referring to his native country’s recent history. His carefully rendered still lifes are splattered with red paint and often include overt memento mori such as skulls, bones, and even a heart impaled on a nail.
Amr Al Ngmah
Amr Al Ngmah is a Yemeni artist born in Alexandria, Egypt and currently living in Cairo. A self-taught artist, he started painting at a young age and became increasingly interested in experimenting with different materials, from the traditional to the digital. He uses software programs and hardware computer parts to study the relationship between the digital age, community, architecture, culture, religion, science, and medicine, and their resulting impact both analytically and descriptively.
Amr Al Ngmah is a Yemeni artist born in Alexandria, Egypt and currently living in Cairo. A self-taught artist, he started painting at a young age and became increasingly interested in experimenting with different materials, from the traditional to the digital. He uses software programs and hardware computer parts to study the relationship between the digital age, community, architecture, culture, religion, science, and medicine, and their resulting impact both analytically and descriptively.
Sahar Dourgham
Sahar Dourgham is a visual artist and professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University. She represented Egypt at the Venice Biennale (2007) and Sarajevo International Biennale (2012). Dourgham has received numerous awards, including the El Mawred Award (2005), the Best Scenario Writing Award at the Trans-Saharan Film Festival in Zagora, Morocco (2010), and the Alexandrian University Award for Scientific Excellence (2014).
She has held artistic residencies in Sweden (2001) and France (2011), and participated in the First and Fourth Bibliotheca Alexandrina Artist's Book Exhibitions and the Agenda Exhibitions. She has held solo exhibitions in Egypt, Sweden, and France, and has participated in group exhibitions in Egypt, Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, and Ireland. Her works are held in collections in Sweden, Tunisia, and Egypt, including at the Egyptian Ministry of Culture (2009) and the Museum of Egyptian Modern Art (2023). Most recently, she participated in the 44th General Exhibition at the Palace of Arts, Cairo Opera House (2024).
Sahar Dourgham is a visual artist and professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University. She represented Egypt at the Venice Biennale (2007) and Sarajevo International Biennale (2012). Dourgham has received numerous awards, including the El Mawred Award (2005), the Best Scenario Writing Award at the Trans-Saharan Film Festival in Zagora, Morocco (2010), and the Alexandrian University Award for Scientific Excellence (2014).
She has held artistic residencies in Sweden (2001) and France (2011), and participated in the First and Fourth Bibliotheca Alexandrina Artist's Book Exhibitions and the Agenda Exhibitions. She has held solo exhibitions in Egypt, Sweden, and France, and has participated in group exhibitions in Egypt, Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, and Ireland. Her works are held in collections in Sweden, Tunisia, and Egypt, including at the Egyptian Ministry of Culture (2009) and the Museum of Egyptian Modern Art (2023). Most recently, she participated in the 44th General Exhibition at the Palace of Arts, Cairo Opera House (2024).
Hany El Sayed
Hany El Sayed is an Alexandrian sculptor who boasts a long history of international exhibitions, awards, and collections, as well as his fundamental contribution to the local artistic movement. Nourished by his surroundings, his work is the product of street life encounters. Modeled with bronze and marble, the artist’s compositions reveal a world of figures suggesting timeless stories, events, memories, and feelings.
Hany El Sayed is an Alexandrian sculptor who boasts a long history of international exhibitions, awards, and collections, as well as his fundamental contribution to the local artistic movement. Nourished by his surroundings, his work is the product of street life encounters. Modeled with bronze and marble, the artist’s compositions reveal a world of figures suggesting timeless stories, events, memories, and feelings.
Sami Elias
Sami Elias holds a diploma in Finance and the Art Market from Sotheby’s Art Institute, a BA in Art Vision and Economics from the American University in Cairo, and an MA in Design Studies from Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design (University of the Arts London). Early on in his career, Elias won the Youth Salon Egyptian National Competition held at the Cairo Opera House. Since then, he has organized talks about design in various spaces around Cairo, including the Goethe Institute and British Council, and has lectured at The American University in Cairo. Samy has taken part in the Cyfuniad 2001 in Barmouth, Wales, a residency organized by Liverpool Hope University and exhibited his work at the Townhouse Gallery, Aisha Fahmy Museum, Central Saint Martins, Gypsum Gallery, Mashrabia Gallery, The Falaky Gallery, The Triangle Art Trust, and the Goethe.
Sami Elias holds a diploma in Finance and the Art Market from Sotheby’s Art Institute, a BA in Art Vision and Economics from the American University in Cairo, and an MA in Design Studies from Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design (University of the Arts London). Early on in his career, Elias won the Youth Salon Egyptian National Competition held at the Cairo Opera House. Since then, he has organized talks about design in various spaces around Cairo, including the Goethe Institute and British Council, and has lectured at The American University in Cairo. Samy has taken part in the Cyfuniad 2001 in Barmouth, Wales, a residency organized by Liverpool Hope University and exhibited his work at the Townhouse Gallery, Aisha Fahmy Museum, Central Saint Martins, Gypsum Gallery, Mashrabia Gallery, The Falaky Gallery, The Triangle Art Trust, and the Goethe.
Sabah Naim
Sabah Naim (b. 1967) is a Cairo-based Egyptian artist who graduated from the Faculty of Art Education in 1990 and currently works there as an assistant professor. Her work has been displayed in numerous solo and collective exhibitions. With a unique outlook and a distinct visual language in which it weaves its dialogues, Sabah Naim explores previously uncharted territories. Her work spans a variety of mediums such as fabrics, newspapers, and threads. She also incorporates photography and embroidery into her work, transforming simple materials into rich,
complex, and yet delicate surfaces.
Sabah Naim (b. 1967) is a Cairo-based Egyptian artist who graduated from the Faculty of Art Education in 1990 and currently works there as an assistant professor. Her work has been displayed in numerous solo and collective exhibitions. With a unique outlook and a distinct visual language in which it weaves its dialogues, Sabah Naim explores previously uncharted territories. Her work spans a variety of mediums such as fabrics, newspapers, and threads. She also incorporates photography and embroidery into her work, transforming simple materials into rich,
complex, and yet delicate surfaces.
Marwa Talaat
Marwa Talaat is an Egyptian contemporary artist whose work explores the societal and political issues of her generation, reflecting the realities faced by modern women. Her artistic practice encompasses a wide range, from intricate installations to vibrant paintings that emphasise the power of colour and visual storytelling, all interwoven with a feminine touch using fabrics and threads.
Marwa Talaat is an Egyptian contemporary artist whose work explores the societal and political issues of her generation, reflecting the realities faced by modern women. Her artistic practice encompasses a wide range, from intricate installations to vibrant paintings that emphasise the power of colour and visual storytelling, all interwoven with a feminine touch using fabrics and threads.
Essam Alaa & Luigerman
A collaboration between Essam Alaa, an Egyptian painter, and Luigerman, a Colombian photographer, this project presents a unique perspective on the vibrant city of Cairo, with Luigerman exploring the world of Cairo with an outsider’s eye, while Essam Alaa reflects on a world in which he’s been thoroughly immersed since birth. In the manner of the renowned photographer Etienne Sved, who published the remarkable photo book "Egypt Face to Face" in 1954, Essam Alaa's paintings and Luigerman's photography capture spontaneous expressions of emotions, sensations, and the vibrancy of a magical and ancient city, as well as explore the immutable forms of Cairo life, including human attitudes, looks, gestures, and movements that persist in this urban world.
A collaboration between Essam Alaa, an Egyptian painter, and Luigerman, a Colombian photographer, this project presents a unique perspective on the vibrant city of Cairo, with Luigerman exploring the world of Cairo with an outsider’s eye, while Essam Alaa reflects on a world in which he’s been thoroughly immersed since birth. In the manner of the renowned photographer Etienne Sved, who published the remarkable photo book "Egypt Face to Face" in 1954, Essam Alaa's paintings and Luigerman's photography capture spontaneous expressions of emotions, sensations, and the vibrancy of a magical and ancient city, as well as explore the immutable forms of Cairo life, including human attitudes, looks, gestures, and movements that persist in this urban world.
Ahmed Yasser
Ahmed Yasser (b.1997) is an Egyptian artist whose passion for the arts ignited early in his life. Being a self-taught artist, Yasser drew inspiration from a multitude of books and sources. Initially engaged in various non-art-related occupations, he transitioned to a full-time commitment to art approximately five years ago. Since then, Yasser has showcased his works in various exhibitions, notably those hosted by venues such as Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art, Medrar, and Ard Institution.
Ahmed Yasser (b.1997) is an Egyptian artist whose passion for the arts ignited early in his life. Being a self-taught artist, Yasser drew inspiration from a multitude of books and sources. Initially engaged in various non-art-related occupations, he transitioned to a full-time commitment to art approximately five years ago. Since then, Yasser has showcased his works in various exhibitions, notably those hosted by venues such as Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art, Medrar, and Ard Institution.
Alaa Ayman
Alaa Ayman (b.1995) is a painter and video artist based in Cairo. She graduated from Fine Arts in 2018 and further pursued Visual Arts at Studio Khana for Contemporary Art and Cultural Development in Cairo.
Alaa's painting process centers on building layers, working with oil to add, subtract, and blur. Most of her work is inspired by memories, stories, and even events, aiming to create her own mythology—a means of reconnecting her personal narrative with collective memory. She is deeply interested in human relations and enjoys observing people and listening to their stories. Drawn to the painterly quality of colors created by old film cameras, amateur lighting, as well as the informal postures of figures, she collects various items such as old photos, letters, tapes, negatives, etc. These diverse images collectively create a cast of characters and a narrative to draw from.
Alaa Ayman (b.1995) is a painter and video artist based in Cairo. She graduated from Fine Arts in 2018 and further pursued Visual Arts at Studio Khana for Contemporary Art and Cultural Development in Cairo.
Alaa's painting process centers on building layers, working with oil to add, subtract, and blur. Most of her work is inspired by memories, stories, and even events, aiming to create her own mythology—a means of reconnecting her personal narrative with collective memory. She is deeply interested in human relations and enjoys observing people and listening to their stories. Drawn to the painterly quality of colors created by old film cameras, amateur lighting, as well as the informal postures of figures, she collects various items such as old photos, letters, tapes, negatives, etc. These diverse images collectively create a cast of characters and a narrative to draw from.