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Nelly El Sharkawy
Biography

Nelly El Sharkawy ( b. 1995, Cairo ) is a Cairo-based architect, photographer, and ballet dancer whose works range from conceptual street photography to architectural photography. Her last solo exhibition “Even a brick wants to be something ELSE” was shown at the Cairo Photo Week (Cairo, 2023). Her recent group exhibitions include " Looking at the Same Water" at Izmir Mediterranean Biennale ( Izmir, 2024 ), “Points of Resonance: Contemporary Photography in Africa” (Cairo,2023), Cairo International Art District 2nd Edition (Cairo, 2022), The Cairo Art Fair 8th Edition (Cairo, 2022), “ Sky, Earth and the Air” at Shelter Art Space (Alexandria, 2022), “Miscegenation" at Shelter Art Space (Alexandria, 2019) and “Sameness” at TU Berlin (El Gouna, 2018). El Sharkawy won the “Best Innovative Photograph” award of the Cairo Camera Club in 2013 and Egypt’s Commercial International Bank (CIB) award in the 25th Youth Salon in 2014. Nelly is currently the managing partner and creative director of Cairopolitan, a design boutique and art gallery in Cairo, Egypt.

CV

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

2023       even a brick wants to be something ELSE | Cairo Photo Week.

2021        Le Carnaval | Gypsum Gallery OVR.

GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

2024        Looking at the same Water | Izmir Mediterranean Biennale, Izmir, Turkey.

2023        Points of Resonance: Contemporary Photography in Africa | Intra-African Trade Fair, Cairo, Egypt.

2022        Aouda Exhibition - Rising From the Ashes | Darb 1718, Cairo, Egypt.

2022        Cairo International Art District II | Art d'Egypte, Founder Spaces, Cairo, Egypt.

2022        Sky, Earth, & the Air | Shelter Art Space, Alexandria, Egypt.

2022        Ma'arad-ha | Art d'Egypte, Cairo, Egypt.
 

2021        Tangled Structures | Cairo International Art District I, Art d'Egypte, The Factory, Cairo, Egypt.

2021        Miscegenation: The Alexandria Chapter | Shelter Art Space, Alexandria, Egypt.
 

2021        Almaza Bay Exhibtion | Art d'Egypte, Almaza Bay, Marsa Matruh, Egypt.
 

2021        Mouanath | Cairo Photo Week, Art d'Egypte, Cairo, Egypt.

2020        Cairo Art Fair 6th Edition | The Artsmart Gallery, Cairo, Egypt.

2020        Basalet ElMoheb | The Artsmart Gallery, Cairo, Egypt.

2020        DOTS Exhibition | Art D'Egypte, Kodak Passageway.

2020        Bright Lights, Big Shadows Exhibition | The Photographic Gallery, AUC.

2019        Cairo Art Fair 5th Edition | Artsmart Gallery, Cairo, Egypt.

2019        STRATA |Zamalek Art Gallery, Cairo, Egypt.

2019        TAM.Gallery North| Diplo, North Coast, Egypt.

2019        The Summer Affordable Art Show| Artsmart Gallery, Cairo, Egypt.


2019        SHE TELLS |B’sarya Art Gallery, Alexandria, Egypt.


2018        SHE TELLS Photo Art Exhibition, curated by SOMA Art Gallery| Cairo Photo Week, Cairo, Egypt.


2018        Cairo Design Award| Cairo, Egypt.


2018        Sameness, curated by Adsum Art| TU Berlin El Gouna, Egypt.


2018        SOMA Summer Art Collection| SOMA Art Galler, Cairo, Egypt.

2018        The Summer Affordable Art Show| Artsmart Gallery, Cairo, Egypt.


2017        D-tour III| Abngworld & Downtown Cairo, Cairo, Egypt.


2017        Cairo Art Fair III| ArtsMart Gallery, Cairo, Egypt.


2017        SOMA wall at Maison 69| Curated by SOMA Art Galler, Cairo, Egypt.


2017        Kintsugi Exhibition| SOMA Art Galler, Cairo, Egypt.

2017        The Summer Affordable Art Show| Artsmart Gallery, Cairo, Egypt.


2017        The Contemporary Shutter Exhibition curated by Photopia| D-CAF, Cairo, Egypt.


2016        Cairo Art Fair II| ArtsMart, Cairo, Egypt.


2016        Liberalis Institution of Arts| Medicines Du Monde, Cairo, Egypt.


2016        Youth Salon, Kasr al Fenoun| Cairo Opera House, Cairo, Egypt.


2016        The Artists of Tomorrow| ArtsMart, Cairo, Egypt.


2014        Youth Salon, Kasr al Fenoun| Cairo Opera House, Cairo, Egypt.


2014        Photopia Photo Gallery, Westown hub Winter Festival| Sodic, Cairo, Egypt.


2014        Collective Photography Exhibition| Al Sawy Culture Wheel, Cairo, Egypt.


2013        Sharjah Award Photo| Sharka, Emirates.


2012        Mashrou3 Hagar: Art Empowers!
                | Darb 1718, Cairo, Egypt.
                | Alexandria Atelier, Alexandria, Egypt.
                |Suhag Culture Palace, Suhag, Egypt.


2012        Collective Photography Exhibition| Al Sawy Culture Wheel, Cairo, Egypt.


2011        Collective Photography Exhibition| Al Sawy Culture Wheel, Cairo, Egypt.

AWARDS, NOMINATIONS & FEATURES:

2022        Canvas magazine June issue 102 cover

2019        El Beit magazine June issue cover


2017        Foam Paul Huf Award Nomination| Foam, Amsterdam.


2016        The Photographers Gallery Instagram takeover by Photopia|The Photographer’s Gallery, UK.


2014        CIB Award, Youth Salon, Kasr al Fenoun| Cairo Opera House, Cairo, Egypt.


2013        Most Innovative Photograph| Cairo Camera Club, Cairo, Egypt.


2013        Architecture Top Ten Nominee, Sharjah Award Photo| Sharjah, Emirates.

PUBLIC SPEAKING/ TEACHING:

 

2024       Becoming the Architect of Your World | Workshop, Alexandria Photo Week, Alexandria, Egypt.

 

2024       From Cairo to Izmir | Talk, Alexandria Photo Week, Alexandria, Egypt.

 

2023       Even a brick wants to be something ELSE | Talk, Cairo Photo Week, Cairo, Egypt.

 

2022       Unclonable Structures | Talk, El Gouna Photo Week, El Gouna, Egypt.
 

2022       Three Influential Photographers: Three Architectural Perspectives | Panel Discussion, Film my Design, Cairo, Egypt.

2021       Untiteld Art | Talk, Cairo Photo Week, Cairo, Egypt.

2021       From the City Narratives | Talk, Shelter Art Space, Alexandria, Egypt.

2021       Patterns of the City through the Eye of the Architect | Panel Discussion, Cairo Photo Week, Cairo, Egypt.

2021       Maneuvering Contemporary Photography: Three Perspectives | Panel Discussion, Cairo Photo Week, Cairo, Egypt.

2019       Communicating Photography: Presentation Skills for Photographers | Talk Photopia, Cairo, Egypt.


2019       She Tells Artists Talk, curated by Soma Art Gallery| Photopia, Cairo, Egypt.


2018       How to see in Black & White | Talk Photopia, Cairo, Egypt.

2018       TEDx salon’s event; Popcorn|GUC, Cairo, Egypt.


2017       Born to Change curated by Photopia, Cairographie Photography Festival |Darb 1718, Cairo, Egypt.


2017       Street Photography Workshop hosted by Photopia| D-CAF, Cairo, Egypt.


2016       Alternative Conceptual | Talk, Photopia, Cairo, Egypt.


2016       Double Exposure | Workshop, Cairo Camera Club, Cairo, Egypt.


2015       Mashrou’ El Saada | Public Lecture, AAST, Cairo, Egypt.


2015       Double Exposure | Workshop, Photopia, Cairo, Egypt.


2014       Egypt’s Female Photographers | Talk, Al Sawy Culture Wheel, Cairo, Egypt.

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