Nazir Tanbouli (b. 1971) is an Egyptian artist based in Cairo. After studying art and design at the School of Fine Art, Alexandria University, Egypt, between 1989-1994, Tanbouli worked on many projects as a painter, muralist, illustrator and graphic designer, before moving to the UK in 2002. Tanbouli studied book art and printmaking in 2010 at Camberwell College of Art, University of the Arts London (UAL) and was awarded an MFA. Tanbouli’s work is narrative, biographical, communicative, and often humorous. Both characters and places in his work are a dream-like rendering of all the people he knows and the places he has travelled to, yet his works often contain global themes and symbols which make them both non-culturally specific and widely appealing.
Solo exhibitions include upcoming Postcards from Paradise Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Berlin, Germany (2023); Tales from the Golden Forest, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London, UK (2022); Dawn of a New Day, Picasso Gallery Cairo (2021); Dancing Canvases, Mashrabia Gallery Cairo (2018); Drawing Exhibition, French Cultural Institute Alexandria (2016); Remains of Old Albums, Artlounge, Cairo (2015); Full Circle: Drawings And Live Performance, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt (2014); Book Art, Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology (2011); Paper Murals, Wilson Road Gallery, Camberwell College of Art (2010); Baptism of Hailstones, Surface Gallery, Nottingham (2009); Private Nightmares, Redgate Gallery, London (2008).
Group exhibitions include Art Dubai, with Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Dubai, UAE (2023); Art Dubai, with Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Dubai, UAE (2022); Art at the Egyptian Museum, Egyptian Museum, Cairo (2017); Triumvirate Mojo Gallery, Dubai (Dubai Art Fair) (2017); The Wall, Hackney Downs Studios, London (2013); Vinyl, Cultivate, Vyner Street, London (2012); 7th Moscow Book Art Fair (2011); Seven Men in London Town, Redgate Gallery, London (2010); Beyond Borders: London and New York, AEStudios Gallery, New York City (2009); Prospero's Library, Accademia di Belle Arte, Catania, Italia (2009); Lighten Up, Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridge (2006).
Highlights and collections
Nazir Tanbouli has received multiple international prestigious awards including Arts Council of England Individual Artist Grant (2015); University of the Arts London Creative Enterprise Award (2012); Bainbridge Award for Printmaking (2010); Arts Council of England Individual Artist Grant (2007); Juliet Gomperts Trust Award (2006); Arts Council of England Individual Artist Development Grant (2005); Arts Council of England Individual Artist Grant (2004); Grand Drawing Prize, Artist of the Year, National Salon of Youth, Egypt (1993). Tanbouli’s work can be found in the Dubai Collection, the EGYPTIAN modern art museum, the Bunker Artspace Museum (USA), as well as the Shaboury collection. In addition, in 2012, Tanbouli was awarded Creative Enterprise award for co-founding and managing the artist-run space Studio 75 in London.