George Bahgory George Bahgory is one of Egypt’s most renowned contemporary artists.
with bright colours appealing to folk art fans. He cites Pablo Picasso,
An Egyptian-French artist, he is widely referred to as ‘the granddaddy of
Egyptian modernist Abdel Hadi Al Gazzar, German expressionist Paul
Egyptian caricature,’ Bahgory is most famous for his political cartoons
Klee, and Egyptian Fayoum portraits as influences. Bahgory paints in
that have been featured in Arabic press for decades. Bahgoury was
a manner that can be perceived as either dark or whimsical, a model
born into a Coptic Christian family in Luxor, Upper Egypt in 1932. In
combination for the rugged and creative spirit of both Egypt and the
1955, he studied painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Zamalek, Cairo,
20th century’s best-selling artist. He is a multifaceted artist with an
under the guidance of the Egyptian artist Hussein Bikar. In 1970, he
impressive history, having written books, garnered numerous national
studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Paris.
and international honours and participated in over thirty exhibitions
Thirty years in Paris refined his talent in drawing, engraving, painting,
across Europe and the Middle East. Bahgory has mastered various
sculpture, marionette art, novel writing, cinema and criticism. Upon an
fine art mediums, including drawing, painting and prints as well as
invitation from the Society of Art Lovers in Paris, his works were selected
photography and sculpture.
to represent the Egyptian Pavilion. His painting “A Face from Egypt”
Some of his works can be found in the Museum of Modern Art in
won the Silver Medal award. His wood and bronze engravings have been displayed in galleries in France and Canada. He also created two granite works during the Aswan International Symposium of Sculpture. From 1953 to 1975, Bahgoury was also a prominent cartoonist for the two weekly Egyptian magazines Sabah Al Khair and Rose El Youssef. Works by Bahgory can be categorized as expressionist and cubist
Amman and the Museum of Modern Art in Cairo. Following the Egyptian Revolution, Al Masar Gallery for Contemporary Art in Zamalek, Cairo, hosted a special exhibition ‘Bahgory on Revolution’ of Bahgory’s postrevolution artworks. Scenes from “The Battle of the Camel” (of 2 February 2011) were featured, alongside paintings depicting scenes daily life in Egypt and the artist’s love of the music of Om Kulthoum.
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