Basim Magdy

Biography

Basim Magdy’s practice began with painting and has gradually evolved through experimentation with various mediums. With little to no knowledge of each new medium introduced, he has found that the process has provided opportunities for self-exploration. He has been focusing lately on photography and film, motivated initially by their tangible, tactile and versatile nature.

His work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions at Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; Castello di Rivoli, Torino, Italy; MCA Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; MAXXI National Museum of the 21st Century Arts, Rome; Jeu de Paume, Paris; CAPC Museum of Contemporary Art, Bordeaux; Deutsche Bank KunstHalle, Berlin; Hessel Museum of Art, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York; Salt Ulus, Ankara; Sharjah Biennial 13, Sharjah Art Foundation; Whitechapel Gallery, London; MoMA Museum of Modern Art, New York; KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin; Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago; New Museum Triennial, New Museum, New York; Museum of Modern Art, Warsaw; HOME, Manchester, UK; The Green Parrot, Barcelona and Lismore Castle Arts, Waterford, Ireland.

Magdy won the Deutsche Bank Artist of the Year (2016); Experimental Award, Curtas Vila do Conde International Film Festival, Portugal (2015); Abraaj Art Prize, Dubai (2014) and New:Vision Award, CPH:DOX Film Festival, Copenhagen (2014). He was shortlisted for the Future Generation Art Prize, Kiev (2012).

Born in 1977 in Assiut, Egypt, Magdy now lives and works in Basel and Cairo.

This person was part of Sharjah Biennial 11 and 13