Samo Shalaby

Raised between Cairo and Dubai, Shalaby draws from a broad spectrum of artistic influences spanning antiquity, surrealism, fashion, and the grotesque. His multidisciplinary background informs richly layered compositions that fuse historical references with imagined futures, creating dreamlike worlds that exist between the familiar and the fantastical.

At the core of his practice is an exploration of identity, culture, and couture. Through symbolic imagery and carefully constructed narratives, Shalaby examines the tensions between appearance and reality, beauty and distortion, tradition and reinvention. His works challenge conventional notions of elegance by uncovering the stories and complexities concealed beneath carefully crafted façades, inviting viewers to reconsider the fluid nature of identity and representation.

Whether working on canvas or through the camera lens, storytelling and symbolism remain fundamental to Shalaby's artistic language. By combining visual motifs from different eras and cultures, he constructs immersive environments that transcend time and place, encouraging reflection on memory, heritage, and the evolving relationship between the past and the present.

Since graduating, Shalaby has exhibited internationally across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and North America. Notable presentations include his solo exhibition Observatory Mansions at Lee & Bae Gallery in Busan and a solo booth at KIAF Seoul in 2024, alongside exhibitions with Abu Dhabi Art, Tabari Artspace, Soho Revue, Marignana Arte, Thaer Selects, and Rizq Art Initiative. In 2025, his work entered the collection of the Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah, marking an important milestone in his rapidly expanding career.