El Marsam: Modern and Contemporary Art from Egypt
El Marsam: Modern and Contemporary Art from Egypt explores the origins and evolution of Egypt’s modern art movement and its continuing influence on contemporary practice in Egypt and throughout the Egyptian diaspora. Curated by Heba El Kayal, the exhibition brings together more than 45 works in painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, and collage.
The title comes from the Arabic word “marsam,” meaning “studio.” Although “marsam” and the French “atelier” were once used interchangeably, the shift toward the Arabic term reflects the development of a distinctly Egyptian modern art movement shaped by both international modernist ideas and local traditions, subjects, and aesthetics. The exhibition emphasizes the studio as a place of artistic creation, exchange, and intergenerational influence.
El Marsam pairs historically significant artists with leading and emerging artists working today, highlighting the diversity, technical sophistication, and interconnectedness of Egyptian artistic production. It is described as one of the first exhibitions in a U.S. public institution devoted exclusively to Egyptian modern and contemporary art, offering audiences an opportunity to encounter Egypt through the artists who have shaped its modern cultural life.
When: September 18 through December 11, 2026
Venue: MEI Art Gallery
Tickets: Price not available
Curator: Heba El Kayal, a curator, writer, and researcher specializing in modern and contemporary art from the Middle East and Africa. She has worked in Dubai, Beirut, New York, and London and has advised auction houses and private collectors while collaborating with both emerging and established regional artists. Her research examines collecting, ownership, cultural stewardship, institutional power, artist-estate preservation, and the relationship between private collections and state or institutional collections.
Works: More than 45 works spanning painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, and collage.
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.
Themes: The exhibition considers the dialogue between modernist currents from around the world and Egypt’s local artistic traditions, as well as the relationships among artists and the ways their work has influenced later generations. It also addresses the complexity of Egyptian identity and the role of artists in reclaiming histories and challenging inherited colonial narratives.
Notable works: Featured examples include Hassan Soliman’s *The Musicians* and Samir Fouad’s *Three Brass Players*.
Accessibility: No accessibility information is provided.