Wael shawky biography

Egyptian artist

Wael Shawky (born 1971) is an Egyptian artist working between Alexandria and Philadelphia. Shawky gained international recognition for his works that trace the history of the Crusades through a Middle Eastern lens.^[1] Shawky has won many awards and prizes for his work, including the Ernst Schering Foundation Art Award in 2011^[2] and the Mario Merz Prize (2015) for his film trilogy, Al Araba Al Madfuna.^[3] He is represented by Sfeir-Semler Gallery, Galleria Lia Rumma and Lisson Gallery.^[4][5]

Early life and education

Shawky was born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1971 and spent his youth in Mecca, Saudia before returning to Egypt when he was 13.^[6] He holds an MFA from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA, and a BFA from the Alexandria University, Egypt.^[7]

Career

Based on extensive periods of research and enquiry, Wael Shawky’s work tackles notions of n