Ending 7th Jun, 2026 16:00
Olympia Timed: Modern and Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Art 2026
363
‡ MAHMOUD ABDALLAH (EGYPTIAN 1938-2001)
UNTITLED
signed abdallah in English and Arabic, editioned 15/21 lower margin
woodcut print on paper
27.8 x 30.6; 10 7/8 x 12in
64.2 x 54cm; 25 1/4 x 21 1/4in (framed)
Property from the Zulficar Family Collection, Alexandria
Mahmoud Abdullah was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and graduated from the College of Fine Arts there in 1962. Working across painting and graphic art, he explored themes of freedom, peace, liberty, and independence. His work often reflects humanity’s tension with nature, expressed through a contrast between solid and liquid forms: the shore as a space of culture and civilisation, and water as a shifting, unknown force. Using warm, muted tones with greys, he created geometric, poetic, and lyrical abstractions with a mystical atmosphere.
In 1958, he co-founded the “Abstractionists” group with Said Al Adawi and Mostafa Abdel Moity. He taught at the College of Fine Arts from 1962 to 1970 and lectured at the Applied Arts College from 1981 to 1984. He exhibited widely in Egypt and abroad, including at the Alexandria Art Biennale. His final exhibition was Pharos of Arts | Artists of Alexandria at Al Masar Gallery for Contemporary Art in Cairo. His works are held in major public and private collections in Egypt and internationally.
UNTITLED
signed abdallah in English and Arabic, editioned 15/21 lower margin
woodcut print on paper
27.8 x 30.6; 10 7/8 x 12in
64.2 x 54cm; 25 1/4 x 21 1/4in (framed)
Property from the Zulficar Family Collection, Alexandria
Mahmoud Abdullah was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and graduated from the College of Fine Arts there in 1962. Working across painting and graphic art, he explored themes of freedom, peace, liberty, and independence. His work often reflects humanity’s tension with nature, expressed through a contrast between solid and liquid forms: the shore as a space of culture and civilisation, and water as a shifting, unknown force. Using warm, muted tones with greys, he created geometric, poetic, and lyrical abstractions with a mystical atmosphere.
In 1958, he co-founded the “Abstractionists” group with Said Al Adawi and Mostafa Abdel Moity. He taught at the College of Fine Arts from 1962 to 1970 and lectured at the Applied Arts College from 1981 to 1984. He exhibited widely in Egypt and abroad, including at the Alexandria Art Biennale. His final exhibition was Pharos of Arts | Artists of Alexandria at Al Masar Gallery for Contemporary Art in Cairo. His works are held in major public and private collections in Egypt and internationally.
Auction: Olympia Timed: Modern and Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Art 2026, ending 7th 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.
