A Look Inside Cairo’s Contemporary Art Scene

There are also plenty of contemporary art galleries in Cairo, many of which are in Zamalek on Gezira island in the Nile. Some, like Arcade , are associated with community art schools and aim to amplify the talents of young Egyptian artists. Others, like Gypsum , host solo and group exhibitions designed to entice an international audience, while galleries like Ubuntu showcase the work of artists from Egypt and abroad. Other must-visit art institutions and galleries in Cairo include:

Darb 1718

Founded by artist and activist Moataz Nasr in 2008, the non-profit contemporary art and cultural center is located in the Fustat neighborhood of Old Cairo. Since its inception, Darb 1718 has become a prime example of the art community's struggle for survival.

The pivotal center, known for curating and hosting national and international artwork and several artist workshops, faced a significant setback earlier this year when its main building was demolished "without any prior notice" to make way for a highway expansion. Over a hundred artworks were destroyed, yet the center remains open, continuing to host workshops for the community, from cyanotype printing to acrylic pouring.

SafarKhan Art Gallery

SafarKhan Art Gallery , one of the first to open in Cairo's artsy Zamalek district, has been representing emerging and established artists from the Middle East and North Africa since 1968, when Roxanne Petridis created a space that would eventually become a hub for the avant-garde in the region but opened as a shop selling Islamic artifacts. Today, the gallery is owned by Sherwet Shafei and it bills itself as the "original home of modern Egyptian art." SafarKhan is especially known for championing Egyptian modernists like Mahmoud Saïd and Hamed Nada, as well as contemporary talents such as Mohamed Abla and Omar El-Nagdi.

The Salah Taher Gallery at the Cairo Opera House

The Cairo Opera House has become a cultural fixture not only in Egypt but also the Middle East. The funds for the location were initially gifted from Japan after a visit from the former president of Egypt. Since its opening in 1988, it has become a treasured arts and cultural hub, hosting opera, ballet, theater, and art exhibitions.

Recently, the Salah Taher Gallery at the Cairo Opera House hosted the exhibition "Mariam," which featured over fifty paintings by award-winning artist, Mariam Waguih , Egypt's first Fine Arts student with Down Syndrome.

TINTERA , a photographic art consultancy with a gallery space in Zamalek and offices in London, specializes in both contemporary and historical photography, focusing on images that capture the region. Their mission is to raise awareness of Egypt's photography through preservation, research and exhibitions.

The space was initially created because Egypt, one of the most photographed countries of the 19th and 20th Centuries, lacked a dedicated photography institution or museum. The gallery, featuring the works of acclaimed artists including Ahmad Abdalla , Ibrahim Ahmed and Nermine Hammam , ultimately aims to bridge the gap between the history, present and future of photography in Egypt.

Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art

Located in Downtown Cairo, Mashrabia Gallery is the oldest privately owned contemporary arts gallery in the city. Since its opening in 1990, it has become a key figure in cultivating opportunities for both new and established artists, with an emphasis on promoting arts accessibility.

The owner and curator, Stefania Angarano , has stated that Mashrabia was born from a desire to create a connection between Egypt and the West. Since its opening, the institution has worked to promote artists both in Egypt and abroad, sharing often powerful politically and socially-charged stories through its exhibitions and events.

Zamalek Art Gallery