01 Work, Middle East Artists, Omar El-Nagdi's Untitled (Surat Yasin), with Footnotes #73

Omar El-Nagdi (1931 - 2019

Untitled (Surat Yasin), c. 2008

Mixed media on canvas

150 by 150 cm. 59 by 59 in.

Private collection

Estimate for 60,000 - 80,000 GBP in Oct 2025

Nagdi's works can be found in the United States' Congress Library, Washington DC; the Museum of Modern Art, Venice; the National Library, Paris; the Museum of Modern Art, Cairo; the Museum of Fine Art, Alexandria; and the Museum of Modern Art, South Korea. He has exhibited internationally, notably at a solo show at the Institut du Monde Arabe in 1995, and has received awards at three Alexandria Biennales (1999, 1996, and 1974).

Omar El-Nagdi was an Egyptian artist renowned for his contributions to abstract expressionism and cubism. Born in 1931 in Cairo, he had a prolific career that spanned several decades, gaining recognition both locally and internationally. El-Nagdi passed away in 2019.

A graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Helwan University, El-Nagdi earned first-class honors in 1953. His early career saw him win several prestigious awards, including first prize at the Technical Production Exhibition in 1955 and the Cairo Fine Arts competition in 1952. His formative years also included studies abroad, such as ceramics in Russia and higher education at the Venice Academy of Fine Arts in Italy, where he studied under Professor Bruno Saetti. El-Nagdi's work was influenced by various mediums, including painting, sculpture, etching, and mosaic art, with a particular focus on silk-screen printing and graphic arts.

El-Nagdi’s caeer was marked by numerous exhibitions at notable venues worldwide. He participated in the Venice Biennale, Alexandria Biennale, and the Kuwait Biennale, receiving accolades for his innovative use of color and form. His work was exhibited in solo shows in cities including Cairo, Paris, Riyadh, and Beirut, and his art was featured in major galleries such as the Al-Ahram Gallery in Cairo and the Danielle Bourdette Gallery in Honfleur, France. He was also part of several international group exhibitions in cities like London, Maastricht, and Venice.

In addition to his artistic practice, El-Nagdi made significant contributions to the field of art education. He served as a visiting professor at King Saud University in Riyadh and was a member of various artistic organizations, including the Fine Art Friends Association and the Egyptian Television Program Committee. As a TV director, he produced numerous documentaries and directed more than 30 films, composing music for several songs.

El-Nagdi’s legacy extends beyond his work as a visual artist; he also wrote books on design and Egyptian art, such as Alphabetic Design and the Description of Egypt Series. His influence continues to be felt in the world of contemporary Egyptian art. More on Omar El-Nagdi

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, 365 Saints, 365 Days, and Biblical Icons, also visit my Boards on Pinterest and my art stores at  deviantart and Aaroko

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01 Painting, Middle East Artists, OMAR EL-NAGDI's Le Grand Marché, with Footnotes, #56

OMAR EL-NAGDI (EGYPT, 1931-2019)

Le Grand Marché/ The Great Market, c. 1990

Oil on canvas
290 x 232cm (114 3/16 x 91 5/16in).
Private collection

Painter, musician and director Omar El Nagdi was born in Cairo in 1931 and studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts, after which he continued his art education in Russia and Italy, graduating from the Academy of Venice in 1965. In the 1960s, he initiated a series of works for which he is still renowned today - based on singular forms of calligraphy, predominantly in the repetition of the Arabic numeral for one and the first letter of the Arabic alphabet.

"When I work, I like to work with no limits, that is why I like large format painting," he says. "It satisfies me and gives the chance to paint a subject with all its elements and details."

El Nagdi is the recipient of sixteen Egyptian and international art awards, and his paintings have been acquired by museums and renowned institutions throughout the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in Cairo, the Museum of Modern Art in Venice, the Museum of Fine Art in Alexandria, the Museum of Modern Art in South Korea, the National Library in Paris, the Congress Library in the USA, the Museum of Pistoia in Italy, the Rasking Foundation in England, the Centre of Aesthetics Research in Italy, and the Museum of the White House in the USA.

A multi-disciplinary artist, he works in oil painting, watercolour, sculpture, etching, and mosaic, and has had his artwork exhibited alongside those of international greats such as Dali, Monet and Picasso. A renowned name on the international art scene. More on Omar El Nagdi

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, 365 Saints and 365 Days, also visit my Boards on Pinterest

Images are copyright of their respective owners, assignees or others. Some Images may be subject to copyright

I don't own any of these images - credit is always given when due unless it is unknown to me. if I post your images without your permission, please tell me.

I do not sell art, art prints, framed posters or reproductions. Ads are shown only to compensate the hosting expenses.

If you enjoyed this post, please share with friends and family.

Thank you for visiting my blog and also for liking its posts and pages.

Please note that the content of this post primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online.