Art Talks Egypt launches ‘Small is Beautiful’ art exhibition for late Samir Rafi

CAIRO – 26 September 2022: On September 25, Art Talks Egypt in Zamalek launched an exhibition for the late artist Samir Rafi under the title “Small is Beautiful.” It showcases a collection of his most prominent artistic creations and runs until October 13.

The exhibition's poster - social media

Samir Rafi was born in 1926 and his works appeared at the beginning of the mid-forties of the last century. He was at the forefront that led the thoughts and feelings of young people in the years of anger, rebellion and the overwhelming desire for change after World War II until 1952. 

Rafi showed these feelings in all his paintings, regardless of their different elements, innovative compositions and metaphysical themes. His works come among the classics of modern Egyptian art, and his youth paintings are still steadfast in the face of time.

The materials used in the paintings he drew vary, and a number of them were exhibited at international auctions, including Bonhams for Middle Eastern Paintings in the Twentieth Century.

Rafi received a Bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Decorative Arts in 1948, and a diploma from the Higher Institute of Art Education in 1950. He also held a PhD in Art History from the Sorbonne University. He taught at the Department of Decorative Arts in 1950 - 1956 at the Faculty of Fine Arts, and held several leadership positions in Algeria, alongside teaching art history there. 

The late artist held several special exhibitions in Cairo from 1945 to 1953, especially in the Lawyers’ Syndicate, and a special exhibition at the Zamalek Art Complex in 1987. 

Rafi participated in all exhibitions of the Contemporary Art Group founded by Hussein Youssef Amin from 1945 to 1953, in addition to the Egyptian Surrealists Exhibition from the 1940s to the 1990s, and Salvador Dali Exhibition in 1995.