El Marsam: Modern and Contemporary Art from Egypt
El Marsam: Modern and Contemporary Art from Egypt examines the beginnings, development, and continuing impact of Egypt’s modern art movement. Curated by Heba El Kayal, the exhibition takes its name from the Arabic word for “studio,” or *marsam*, reflecting the studio’s role as a place where artists create, exchange ideas, and influence one another across generations.
The exhibition brings together more than 45 works in painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, and collage. Historically important artists are presented alongside leading and emerging artists working today, tracing the richness and diversity of Egyptian artistic production and its influence on contemporary practice in Egypt and throughout the Egyptian diaspora. The exhibition is described as one of the first U.S. presentations at a public institution devoted exclusively to Egyptian modern and contemporary art.
When: September 18–December 11, 2026
Venue: MEI Art Gallery
Curator: Heba El Kayal, a curator, writer, and researcher specializing in modern and contemporary art from the Middle East and Africa. Her research focuses in part on private collections, cultural stewardship, and the relationship between collecting and institutional power.
Works: More than 45 works spanning painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, and collage. An associated article describes the exhibition as including 49 works by 29 artists.
Artists: Zeinab Abd El Hamid, Souad Abdelrasoul, Ibrahim Ahmed, Lara Baladi, Inji Efflatoun, Abdel Hadi El Gazzar, Nada Elkalaawy, Yasmine El Meleegy, Marianne Fahmy, Samir Fouad, Sherin Guirguis, Nermine Hammam, Huda Lutfi, Maha Maamoun, Mayo (Antoine Malliarakis), Ahmed Morsi, Mohamed Monaiseer, Youssef Nabil, Hamed Nada, Effat Naghi, Ahmed Maher Raef, Samir Rafi, Mahmoud Saïd, Marcel Salinas, Youssef Sida, Gazbia Sirry, Hassan Soliman, Van Leo, and Seif Wanly.
Focus: The exhibition considers the dialogue between international modernist movements and Egyptian traditions, subjects, and visual aesthetics. It also explores how artists have shaped one another’s practices and how contemporary artists continue to revisit Egyptian artistic histories, identity, and inherited narratives.
Tickets: Price not available
Support: The exhibition’s lead funding comes from Naguib Sawiris, who also loaned works to the presentation. Major funding is provided by Hassan Allam and David and Gretchen Welch, with additional support from Demi Angelakis Pearson and John Pearson, Teresa Barger, and Habib Gorgi.