Omar El Nagdi

Painter

(b. 1931 – Cairo, Egypt) A towering figure in modern Arab art with a career that spanned
over six decades, Omar El Nagdi has weaved a territory where he has crowned himself
as an unparalleled master of Expressionism, Cubism and Fauvism with a cultural
identity deeply rooted in Egyptian heritage. He obtained his BFA in painting from the
Faculty of Fine Arts, Helwan University in Cairo in 1952, securing first class honours at 21
years old. His art education extended far and beyond at Moscow, Venice and Ravenna
where he honed his versatile artistic sensibilities through the exploration of different
mediums including mosaics, ceramics, silk-screen printing and graphic arts
implemented through ceramics, wood, stone and various metals. With a multifaceted
educational background and forwarded practice, Nagdi has woven a visual language
rooted in cultural identity and cosmopolitan in artistic echo.
Drawing from the nuances of daily Egyptian life and his upbringing in Bab Al-Sha’riya
district, Nagdi has become fluent in the symbolic depiction of the social and political
concerns of his own people; expressionist in its motif, cubist & fauvist in its visual
representation. Omar has become the lead in Hurrufiyya movement where he
pioneered the rhythmic repetition of ‘one’ (wahed) Arabic numerical, drawing
inspiration from the spirituality of Sufism.
Nagdi is a decorated recipient of numerous accolades with an amass of 16 local and
international prizes, most notable of which are his three Alexandria Biennales (1966,
1968 and 1974) and the honorary medal of the French parliament. His work has travelled
across esteemed local and international solo & group exhibitions alike, crowning him as
one of the most recognised Egyptian artists in the international art market as plenty of
his artworks have been sold at most prestigious auction houses.

Artworks

Artwork Title

Painting

Oil on Canvas

30 x 30 CM

11.8 x 11.8 Inch

Artwork Title

Painting

Oil on Canvas

35 x 55 CM

13.8 x 21.7 Inch

Artwork Title

Painting

Oil on Canvas

40 x 40 CM

15.7 x 15.7 Inch

Artwork Title

Painting

Oil on Canvas

95 x 95 CM

37.4 x 37.4 Inch

Artwork Title

Painting

Oil on Canvas

100 x 100 CM

39.4 x 39.4 Inch

Artwork Title

Painting

Mixed Media on Canvas

60 x 60 CM

23.6 x 23.6 Inch

Artwork Title

Painting

Mixed Media on Canvas

100 x 100 CM

39.4 x 39.4 Inch

Artwork Title

Painting

Oil on Canvas

50 x 70 CM

19.7 x 27.6 Inch

Artwork Title

Painting

Mixed Media on Canvas

115 x 145 CM

45.3 x 57.1 Inch

Artwork Title

Drawing

Watercolor on Paper

35 x 50 CM

13.8 x 19.7 Inch

Artwork Title

Painting

Mixed Media on Canvas

100 x 150 CM

39.4 x 59.1 Inch

Artwork Title

Drawing

Pen on Paper

30 x 40 CM

11.8 x 15.7 Inch

Artwork Title

Drawing

Pen on Paper

30 x 40 CM

11.8 x 15.7 Inch

Artwork Title

Painting

Mixed Media on Canvas

30 x 40 CM

11.8 x 15.7 Inch

Artwork Title

Painting

Mixed Media on Canvas

150 x 150 CM

59.1 x 59.1 Inch

Artwork Title

Painting

Mixed Media on wood

150 x 150 CM

59.1 x 59.1 Inch

Artwork Title

Painting

Mixed Media on Canvas

90 x 120 CM

35.4 x 47.2 Inch

Artwork Title

Painting

Mixed Media on Canvas

100 x 150 CM

39.4 x 59.1 Inch

Exhibitions

Current

5 October - 22 October 2025

Past

The Bright Side

Group Exhibition

15 June - 31 August 2025

Past

Collective Exhibition

Group Exhibition

17 March - 18 April 2024

Past

Summer Exhibition 2023

Group Exhibition

3 July - 16 August 2023

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