Khaled Zaki
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Biography
Egyptian artist Khaled Zaki is known for his drawings and sculptures. Born in Suez, he has long held a deep fascination with ancient Egyptian and Mediterranean art. Earning his Master’s degree in Restoration from the Faculty of Archaeology at Cairo University, Zaki studied sculpture at the Al Khonany Museum of Art in Giza, and stone carving and bronze casting in various workshops in Italy. Prior to the 2011 Egyptian revolution, he focused primarily on abstract forms. Following the Revolution, he has transitioned to a more figurative style, aiming to capture the feelings and dreams of Egyptians.
Zaki has been widely exhibited and won the International Artist Prize from ART, Taipei, Taiwan and in 2013 represented his country in the Egyptian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
By Isabella Ellaheh HughesEDUCATION
Zaki holds a Master's in Restoration from the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University. He studied Sculpture at the Al Khonaini Museum of Art, Giza, Egypt, before moving to Italy in 1988 to train in the use of stone and bronze in the studios and workshops of Pietrasanta.SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026, The Path, Sultan al-Ghuri Complex, Cairo, Egypt (presented by Le LAB)2023, Resurrection, Tabari Artspace, Dubai, UAE
2022, The Journey, Tabari Artspace, Dubai, UAE
2021, Resurrection 2: Among the People, Ubuntu Art Gallery, Cairo, Egypt
2018, The Return, Ubuntu Art Gallery, Cairo, Egypt
2018, Resurrection, Tabari Artspace, Dubai, UAE
2017, Dreamers, X Power One, Taipei, Taiwan
2016, The Observers, Art Taipei, Taiwan
2016, Hymns of Gold, Tabari Artspace, Dubai, UAE
2015, Khaled Zaki Solo, Heist, London, UK
2014, In the Wind of January, Tabari Artspace, Dubai, UAE
2014, Khaled Zaki Solo, Gallery Misr, Cairo, Egypt
2002, Khaled Zaki Solo, Gezirah Art Centre, Cairo, Egypt
2002, Khaled Zaki Solo, Safar Khan, Cairo, Egypt
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024, Forever Is Now IV, Art D'Egypte, Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
2021, Reflections: Contemporary Art of the Middle East, The British Museum, London, UK
2013, Barry Friedman - The Salon: Art + Design, New York, USA (with Wendell Castle)
BIENNIALS
2022, Dakar Biennale2017, 7th Beijing International Biennale
2013, Egyptian Pavilion, Venice Biennale, ItalyART FAIRS
2026, Frieze Abu Dhabi, UAE (Tabari)
2019, 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, London, UK (Tabari Artspace)2017, The Royal Flowers, Abu Dhabi Art, Abu Dhabi, UAE (Tabari Artspace)
2017, Beirut Art Fair, Beirut, Lebanon (Tabari Artspace)
2015, Abu Dhabi Art, Abu Dhabi, UAE (Tabari Artspace)
AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES2015, International Artist Prize, Art Taipei, Taiwan
2000, Won the competition for the design and execution of a monumental sculpture, Al Galaa Square, Cairo, Egypt
1989, Pietrasanta Painting Prize, Italy (first foreign winner)
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
The British Museum, London, UKThe Egyptian Museum for Modern Art, Cairo, Egypt
The Egyptian Museum for Modern Sculpture, Aswan, Egypt
Barjeel Art Foundation
SELECTED PUBLICATIONSEigner, S. (2025) Artists of the Middle East: 1900 to Now. London: Thames & Hudson.
Porter, V., Morris, N. and Tripp, C. (2020) Reflections: Contemporary Art of the Middle East and North Africa. London: The British Museum Press.
SELECTED PRESS
2025, Artist Conversation: Khaled Zaki, Canvas
2025, How Art Cairo is Expanding an Appreciation for Arab Art in Egypt, The National, UAE2024, Forever Is Now: Egypt’s Celebrated Art Exhibition Returns, Architectural Digest
2022, Khaled Zaki Captures Movements Through Sculptures in new Dubai Show, The National, UAE
2018, Anna Seaman, Khaled Zaki's Sculptural Rebirth
2018, Architectural Digest, Germany2016, The Culture Trip, Egyptian Mosaics Adorn the Venice Biennale’s Encyclopaedic Palace
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Works
Installation view, Resurrection, Tabari Artspace, DIFC, Dubai -
Exhibitions
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Be The Stone
Tabari, Frieze Abu Dhabi 2026 19 - 22 November 2026Tabari presents Be the Stone , a multi-artist booth bringing together Egyptian artist Khaled Zaki (b. 1964, Suez, Egypt), Iraqi-British artist Irene Scheinmann (b. 1933, Baghdad, Iraq), and Palestinian artists...Explore -
Khaled Zaki at the Great Pyramids of Giza
24 October - 16 November 2024'Khaled Zaki, an internationally acclaimed Egyptian sculptor, is known for blending ancient Egyptian statuary with contemporary reflections on society and technology. Drawing on his background in archaeology and sculpture, Zaki’s...Explore -
Resurrection, Khaled Zaki Solo Exhibition
Tabari Artspace 19 November 2023 - 13 January 2024These marble works explore the relationship between form and material in the context of geopolitical unrest in the Middle Eastern region and reflect Khaled’s aspirations for a brighter, more hopeful...Explore -
Khaled Zaki Solo, The Journey
27 September - 11 November 2022The Journey is the solo exhibition of celebr ated Egyptian sculptor, Khaled Zaki . For Zaki , Sufi poet and mystic, Rumi has conquered both earth and time, with his...Explore -
Resurrection
Khaled Zaki 19 March - 25 April 2018Tabari Artspace presented a series of nine new sculptures by artist Khaled Zaki, a major pioneer of modernist sculpture in Egypt.Explore -
The Royal Flowers
Adel El Siwi 8 - 11 November 2017For the 2017 edition of Abu Dhabi Art, Tabari Artspace Gallery presented leading Egyptian Artists Adel El Siwi and Khaled Zaki.Explore -
The Silk Road
Mohamad Abla 10 October - 24 November 2017Tabari Artspace Gallery presented the solo exhibition of one of Egypt’s most influential and established contemporary artists, Mohamed Abla. The Silk Road includes a selection of abstract artworks which synthesise calligraphy, collage and traditional Middle Eastern techniques which explore folktales from North Africa, the Levant, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent.Explore -
Hymns of Gold
Khaled Zaki 14 March 2016 - 29 April 2018Tabari Artspace Gallery, Dubai exhibited a collection of works by renowned Egyptian Artist Khaled Zaki entitled Hymns of Gold. On this body of work Zaki suggests: 'In 1258 Tatars attacked...Explore -
In The Wind of January
Khaled Zaki 17 March - 27 April 2014Tabari Artspace Art Gallery presented the solo exhibition of Egyptian artist, Khaled Zaki, entitled: In the Wind of January.Explore
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Press
