Laila Soliman's sculptures in the modern Egyptian art museum, Cairo

Abstract EN

The contemporary Egyptian sculptor and art education professor “Laila Hassan Soliman” (1932-2014), considered as one of the exceptional pioneer sculptors of her generation.

In 1955, she obtained her diploma in art education (1955), and won the “Mahmoud Mokhtar Prize” for sculpture.

Since her graduation and shortly before she died in 2014, Soliman was an active sculptor and instructor in the Faculty of Art Education.

A journey that lasted almost for 50 years full of garnering recognition throughout an art career.

Her work reflects critical views for the political and social aspects of the modern Egypt after 1950s, and same while a deep understanding for the aesthetical and intellectual dialogue between West and East, where the Egyptian-Arabic heritage and culture connected with the modernism and post-modernism.

Working in stone, ceramic and metal, she exhibited in group and solo shows around the world.

The Museum of Modern Egyptian Art acquire four sculptures of Laila Soliman (Fig.15, 16, 17, and 18) which has been stored uninscribed or labeled in the magazine of the Museum.

The sculptures (Fig.15, 16, 17 and18) shows how she managed to different metal forms in terms of both size and function and the development of new techniques as the first Egyptian female artist that dealt with metal waste.

Laila expresses the crafting of iron pieces and pipes in circular and cubic shapes and in vertical and horizontal directions.

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