Inside Egyptian Modern Art Exhibit 'El Marsam' in Washington DC
‘El Marsam’ brings modern Egyptian masters and contemporary artists together in a Washington exhibition drawn largely from private collections.
'El Marsam', an exhibition tracing the connections between modern and contemporary Egyptian art, opened at the Middle East Institute in Washington, DC, on September 18th. Billed as the first exhibition of its kind in the United States, it draws largely from private Egyptian collections and brings together works by modernists including Abdel Hadi El-Gazzar, Gazbia Sirry and Inji Efflatoun with contemporary artists such as Huda Lutfi, Youssef Nabil and Yasmeen El Meleegy.
Egypt’s modern art movement played a significant role in debates around national identity, resistance and intellectual independence from the late 19th century into the 20th. The exhibition places that history alongside contemporary practice, highlighting connections between artists working across different generations.
The title 'El Marsam' refers to the artist’s studio as a space for exchange and discussion. The exhibition was conceived by Cairo-born art scholar and curator Heba El Kayal and is free to visit until December 11th, 2026. It also forms part of a wider programme at the Middle East Institute exploring Egyptian art, heritage and geopolitics.
- Previous Article Cairo Food Week Brings Global Kitchens to Palm Hills
