5 Egyptian Photographers Slaying it Abroad

These Egyptian photographers have pushed the bounds of themes and experimentation, some with an acute sensitivity and celebration of Egyptian society and culture, and others who completely break away from local cultural association and establish a more universal aesthetic. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most innovative photographers making it big abroad and representing what is a fast growing field locally. 

1) Youssef Nabil

Nabil started his career focusing on the the Golden Age of Egyptian cinema by recreating portraits and placing his models in surreal scenes lingering between a dreamlike state and reality. His work has been exhibited in London’s British Museum and Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris, among other notable museums around the world. 

2) Bassam Allam

Specialising in fashion and portrait photography, the uniqueness of Bassam Allam's work is owed to the influence of fine art. He majored in architecture at university, which, in many ways, has shaped his style. He describes his artistic journey as autodictatic, and his photography has been shown in Photovogue by Vogue Italia and Vogue Arabia, as well as BBC. 

3) Laura El-Tantawy

British-Egyptian documentary photographer, Laura El-Tantawy, channels her bi-cultural background in her work, which has been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times and National Geographic amongst a whole host of other big publications. She explores the themes of home and belonging, as well as toying with her audience's perception reality. 

4) Nermine Hammam

Hammam is a London-based photo artist who, more than anything else, explores the theme of reality and how certain notions can be taken for granted. She combines digital manipulation and painting through her photography, and has previously worked with Youssef Chahine. Her work has been exhibited in over 50 international exhibitions around the world. 

5) Youssef Sherif 

Youssef Sherif takes a strong interest in storytelling and is interested in creating a narrative with his photography which reflects a certain storyline. His work takes inspiration from renowned portrait photographer Mark Seliger and is artistically influenced by Quentin Tarantino. Sherif has been featured by PhotoVogue by Vogue Italia.