The colossal statue of Ramesses II hovers over visitors to this year's edition of Art Cairo, which returns to the headline-grabbing Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) for the third time.
Under the title “Peace to All Nations,” the sixth edition of the fair (until 12 February) takes place in a larger and more prominent location than in previous years, in a space close to the lobby, which is now teeming with visitors to the long-awaited archaeological museum.
The GEM began welcoming a limited number of guests in November 2022 and opened its main galleries to the public in mid-October 2024. It will officially open on 3 July.
Ramesses II in the lobby of the Grand Egyptian Museum, with the entrance of Art Cairo in the background Image: © Art Cairo
“Our goal is to establish an Arab art fair that represents artists from across the region and beyond,” says the founder Mohamed Younis, who established the fair eight years ago. “I was surprised that a country like Egypt, with its rich history, one of the first countries in the region to establish fine arts colleges over 100 years ago, did not have an art fair.”
For the first time, the fair features galleries from countries beyond Egypt, including Iraq, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Bahrain, the UAE and Europe, but with a focus on works by Arab artists.
“One of the biggest challenges we initially faced was whether the Egyptian audience and collectors would embrace non-Egyptian art,” Younis says. “While Egyptian collectors have always valued local artists, they are now eager to explore new artistic expressions and discover artists from beyond Egypt.”
Galleries noted swift sales on the opening VIP days and the presence of younger collectors alongside established buyers, predominantly from Egypt.
Due to the challenging geopolitical situation in the region, bringing works to Cairo for several galleries was challenging. Gallery One from Ramallah in the West Bank coordinated with the fair to ship works from Dubai and Jordan.
“It’s not easy to bring artworks from Palestine to Egypt, but from day one the fair has supported us,” says the gallery’s founder Samer Martha. The gallery is presenting works by emerging and established Palestinian artists at Art Cairo. Priced between $200 and $16,000, Martha sold out a wall of smaller works during the VIP opening.
From The Netherlands, Galerie SANAA is showing works by the Syrian Utrecht-based artist Raafat Ballan. Priced between $1,000 and $10,000, several works sold on the opening day, with one going to a collector from Abu Dhabi.
The fair’s expanded edition also reflects Cairo’s cultural revival after years of turmoil. “Due to the revolution in 2011, the pandemic and years of terrorism, Cairo was closed off to the outside world,” says Noor Al Askar, the project manager of the fair. “[But] the art scene never stopped. There are many artists, collectors and galleries in Egypt but no standard. With an art fair you need to maintain quality.”
Stefania Angarano, who founded Mashrabia Gallery in Cairo 30 years ago, says her base in downtown Cairo does not attract the collectors it once did. “This fair gives us the visibility we need,” she says, “both with local and international buyers.”