Renowned Egyptian artist Mohamed Abla, winner of the prize at the 1998 Cairo Biennale and of many prestigious awards in Egypt and abroad, is a man of curious character and many faces. Born in Mansoura, Egypt, he graduated at the top of his class in 1977 from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Alexandria. Upon graduation he took part in Egypt’s “Young Artists Exhibition,” winning the grand prize. He then spent 7 years traveling around Europe, paintings and studying. As a young artist he was almost detached from his indigenous ties, reluctant to settle in one place. Germany was definitely a turning point in his life.

Finding one gallery owner, he showed his work and was transported to elation by the owner’s enthusiastic response. “He saw my sketches, loved them, bought them and asked if I would put on an exhibition.” Six more exhibitions followed in the next two years. His continuous traveling, has given him a broad exposure to the international art scene, and has resulted in him studying, teaching and exhibiting in galleries around the world. Abla says that he has an internal feeling that art is the key to bringing cultural and environmental awareness to people. He has an intense desire for expressing feeling through his paintings.

Abla’s work focuses mainly on graphics and oil painting. His current working space is on an island in the Nile. It provides a quiet oasis and main source of inspiration. The Nile and the local Egyptian environment are prevailing themes in Abla’s art, whether graphics, installation or oil paintings.

Chronological Overview

1953- Born in Mansoura, Egypt

1977- Graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Alexandria (Painting Section)/ he won the Grand Prize at the Alexandria Biennale / won First Prize in his first Solo Exhibition at the Spanish Cultural Center, Cairo.

1978-79- Took an Art and Study trip throughout Europe, and had a Solo Exhibition at the “Hohmann Gallery” in Walsrode, Germany

1980-82- Studied Graphics & Sculpture in Switzerland and Austria, and opened a studio in Zurich for painting therapy/ held a series of exhibitions in Germany

1985-87- Had various exhibitions in Germany / Won first prize in the competition entitled “Cairo from the Artist’s Perspective.” Awarded a scholarship to study in Basel, Switzerland.

1989- Exhibition at “Gallery Ewat,” Lewarden, The Netherlands

1991- Exhibition at Art Hall Orebro-Sweden, and at the Egyptian Academy, Rome. 1992- Exhibition for the Opening of Gallery Cairo-Berlin, Germay.

1993- Graphic Exhibition at A.U.C in Cairo/ “Grenchan Graphic Triennials” Switzerland/ Mashrabia Gallery, Cairo.

1994- Erection of Sisyphus statue, at Walsrode, Germany / received Heitland Scholarship, Lamspring, Germany / exhibitions in Switzerland

1995- Video Exhibition at El Hanager Cairo / Mashrabia Gallery, Cairo.

1996- Cairo Biennial – adjoined work / First Prize Biennial-Kuwait / Gallery Hahmann, Hamburg, Germany

1997- Grand Prize, Biennial of Alexandria.

1998- Exhibition “The Nile’’ at Goethe Institute, Cairo/ Exhibited at Hart Gallery, Carmel, California

1998- His 21st October “Musafirkhan” studio burned down and he lost most of his work

1999- Gallery Arabesque, Scenes from Vermont (scenes from a 1998 visit)

2002- Zamalek Art Gallery, “Conviviality--The Nile & the Trees”, Cairo

2003- Havana Biennele, Cuba

2004- Zamalek Art Gallery, “Cairo…Portraits of a City”, Cairo

2005- Zamalek Art Gallery, “Nostalgia”, Cairo / Group Exhibition, The British Museum, London/ Int’l Art Exhibition in Muscat, Oman

2006- Professor at International Art Academy, Salzburg, Austria / Exhibition of “30 Years of his Art,” Gallery Hohman , Germany.

2007- Exhibition “Contemporary Egyptian Art” at the National Museum of Modern Art, Bonn, Germany / Exhibited in Occidentalism: The West as Seen by Egyptian Artists, Espace Karim Francis, Cairo

2008- Exhibited in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Marseilles, France / Zamalek Art Gallery, “Labyrinth,” Cairo, Egypt