Organized by the Society of Fine Arts Lovers, with a support from the Fine Arts Sector of the Ministry of Culture, the salon provides a prominent platform for both established and emerging artists.
Filling the rooms of the Palace of Arts, a couple of hundred works — mainly paintings and sculpture — showcase a variety of techniques and creative thoughts.
A legacy over a century old
More than just a display of talent, the Cairo Salon is a living testament to Egypt’s vibrant cultural heritage, which spans well over a century.
The salon’s modern history traces back to the vision of Prince Youssef Kamal, who founded Egypt’s first School of Fine Arts in 1908.
From this initiative has grown a landmark event for the visual arts, deeply rooted in Egyptian and Arab artistic life.
The inaugural exhibition of the Cairo Salon was held in 1921, financed by the Egyptian House of Arts and Crafts (Dar Al-Funun wal-Sana‘at Al-Misriyya), owned by Fouad Abdel Malek and partners.
The opening was led by the nationalist Saad Zaghloul, under the honorary presidency of Prince Youssef Kamal, with participation by pioneers such as Mahmoud Mokhtar, Mahmoud Saeed, Mohamed Nagy, Ragheb Ayad, Yusuf Kamel, Mohamed Hassan, Labib Tadros, and others.
In April 1922, the second Cairo Salon was held under the patronage of Princess Samiha Hussein.
The third edition followed in 1923, organized by the Society of Lovers of Fine Arts after its official establishment; it too was under Princess Samiha Hussein’s patronage.
Fouad Abdel Malek played an active role in founding the society and guiding its early activities.
Today, more than a hundred years after its founding, the Society of Fine Arts Lovers has preserved the continuity of Egypt’s oldest and most respected art exhibition in the Arab world.
Last year’s edition of the Salon celebrated “100 Years of Creativity,” reaffirming its ongoing central role in Egypt’s artistic life.
The 61st Cairo Salon runs daily until 15 October, from 9am to 9pm, except on Fridays and official holidays.
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