3rd Jun, 2026 12:00
Live Sale: Modern & Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Art, June 2026
28
⊕ ADEL EL SIWI (EGYPTIAN/ITALIAN B.1952)
TAURUS
mixed media on paper
signed and dated Siwi 2001 in English, and Siwi in Arabic lower right
97.3 x 67.5cm; 38 1/4 x 26 1/2in
139.7 x 100.7; 55 x 39 4/8in (framed)
Property of a Lady, London
Provenance
Sale, Bonhams, London, 2018
Acquired from the above by the present owner
Adel El Siwi is primarily recognized for his monumental figurative paintings, a style that bridges the clinical precision of his medical background with a deep fascination for historical Egyptian aesthetics. His work is characterised by a "hieratic" quality-a formal, stiff, and sacred stillness reminiscent of Pharaonic art and Coptic icons. He frequently focuses on the human face, rendering it on an oversized scale that strips away individual identity to explore more universal, psychological archetypes.
While his medical training informs his understanding of human anatomy, his execution is rarely realistic. Instead, he treats his subjects with a sense of "Oriental Regality," often elongating features and placing them in a silent, static space. This focus extends to his frequent inclusion of animals, such as cats and birds or, as in this case, buffalo found in rural Egypt; rather than serving as mere symbols or background elements, these creatures are given equal weight and presence to his human figures, creating a shared narrative of quietude and introspection.
Technically, El Siwi’s style is defined by a sophisticated use of a limited, often earthy palette. He avoids excessive ornamentation, preferring to build depth through layers of paint that create a subtle interior radiance. The mood of his work is often described as somber or melancholic, lacking in celebration but rich in psychological weight. This approach allows him to navigate between the whimsical and the profound, using traditional mediums to maintain a dialogue with the past while addressing contemporary displacement and memory.
Adel El Siwi (b. 1952, Behera) is a Cairo-based artist whose work is shaped by a background in medicine and a decade spent living in Europe. Although he trained as a doctor at Cairo University between 1970 and 1976, he simultaneously pursued independent studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts from 1974 to 1975. In 1980, he relocated to Milan, Italy, where he practiced for ten years before returning to Cairo to establish his permanent studio.
El Siwi’s professional record includes numerous solo exhibitions across the Middle East and Europe, including shows in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, Italy, France, England, Bahrain, and Dubai. He has been a frequent participant in major international biennials, representing his work at the Cairo Biennale (1996, 2008), the Sharjah Biennale (1997), and the Venice Biennale (2009).
His participation in group exhibitions includes notable surveys such as Rencontres Africaines (1994) and Oum Kalsoum: La Quatrième Pyramide (2008) at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, Modernities and Memories at the 1997 Venice Biennale, and Word into Art in Dubai. Additionally, his work has been featured in urban projection projects organised by Le Laboratoire: Sculpture Urbaine, which displayed his imagery on historical buildings in Rio de Janeiro, Grenoble, and Algiers.
Beyond his studio practice, El Siwi contributes to Arabic art scholarship through his work as a translator. He has translated several foundational art historical texts into Arabic, including writings by Leonardo da Vinci and Paul Klee.
Sold for £8,000
TAURUS
mixed media on paper
signed and dated Siwi 2001 in English, and Siwi in Arabic lower right
97.3 x 67.5cm; 38 1/4 x 26 1/2in
139.7 x 100.7; 55 x 39 4/8in (framed)
Property of a Lady, London
Provenance
Sale, Bonhams, London, 2018
Acquired from the above by the present owner
Adel El Siwi is primarily recognized for his monumental figurative paintings, a style that bridges the clinical precision of his medical background with a deep fascination for historical Egyptian aesthetics. His work is characterised by a "hieratic" quality-a formal, stiff, and sacred stillness reminiscent of Pharaonic art and Coptic icons. He frequently focuses on the human face, rendering it on an oversized scale that strips away individual identity to explore more universal, psychological archetypes.
While his medical training informs his understanding of human anatomy, his execution is rarely realistic. Instead, he treats his subjects with a sense of "Oriental Regality," often elongating features and placing them in a silent, static space. This focus extends to his frequent inclusion of animals, such as cats and birds or, as in this case, buffalo found in rural Egypt; rather than serving as mere symbols or background elements, these creatures are given equal weight and presence to his human figures, creating a shared narrative of quietude and introspection.
Technically, El Siwi’s style is defined by a sophisticated use of a limited, often earthy palette. He avoids excessive ornamentation, preferring to build depth through layers of paint that create a subtle interior radiance. The mood of his work is often described as somber or melancholic, lacking in celebration but rich in psychological weight. This approach allows him to navigate between the whimsical and the profound, using traditional mediums to maintain a dialogue with the past while addressing contemporary displacement and memory.
Adel El Siwi (b. 1952, Behera) is a Cairo-based artist whose work is shaped by a background in medicine and a decade spent living in Europe. Although he trained as a doctor at Cairo University between 1970 and 1976, he simultaneously pursued independent studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts from 1974 to 1975. In 1980, he relocated to Milan, Italy, where he practiced for ten years before returning to Cairo to establish his permanent studio.
El Siwi’s professional record includes numerous solo exhibitions across the Middle East and Europe, including shows in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, Italy, France, England, Bahrain, and Dubai. He has been a frequent participant in major international biennials, representing his work at the Cairo Biennale (1996, 2008), the Sharjah Biennale (1997), and the Venice Biennale (2009).
His participation in group exhibitions includes notable surveys such as Rencontres Africaines (1994) and Oum Kalsoum: La Quatrième Pyramide (2008) at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, Modernities and Memories at the 1997 Venice Biennale, and Word into Art in Dubai. Additionally, his work has been featured in urban projection projects organised by Le Laboratoire: Sculpture Urbaine, which displayed his imagery on historical buildings in Rio de Janeiro, Grenoble, and Algiers.
Beyond his studio practice, El Siwi contributes to Arabic art scholarship through his work as a translator. He has translated several foundational art historical texts into Arabic, including writings by Leonardo da Vinci and Paul Klee.
Auction: Live Sale: Modern & Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Art, June 2026, 3rd Jun, 2026
If you want to start collecting striking modern and contemporary art in a newly developing market, our sales are for you. Each spring and autumn, the Modern and Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Department hold tightly curated, live and online auctions. Expect to find Arab artists such as Rabab Nemr, Ahmed Farid, Seif Wanly and Fateh Moudarres. African artists featured have ranged from modern masters such as Ablade Glover, Sam Ntiro and Jacob Hendrik Pierneef, to contemporary artists George Lilanga, Jilali Gharbaoui, Famakan Magassa, Christano Mangovo, Oluwole Omofemi, Esther Mahlangu and Brett Seiler.
PUBLIC EXHIBITION:
Sunday 31st May: 12pm to 4pm
Monday 1st June: 10am to 8.30pm (Drinks 6-8.30pm)
Tuesday 2nd June: 10am to 5pm
