Chant Avedissian, Untitled (Portrait of a Woman), circa 1990s
Stencil and mixed media on paper
49 x 69 cm (visible), 67 x 86.5 x 3.5 cm (framed)
Condition: Very good
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Chant Avedissian (Egyptian, 1951-2018) was a Cairo-born artist of Armenian descent. He studied fine art in Montreal and applied arts in Paris before returning to Egypt, where he developed a distinctive style applying traditional Islamic patterns, Pharaonic motifs, and pop culture icons. His renowned “Icons of the Nile” series features stenciled portraits of figures like Umm Kulthum and Gamal Abdel Nasser, reflecting Egypt’s rich cultural tapestry. Avedissian’s work is held in esteemed institutions, including the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and the British Museum.
His work often explored identity, heritage, and the visual language of nostalgia. Beyond his iconic stencils, he also created textiles, photography, and graphic designs, with Egypt’s political and cultural shifts as his subjects. His ability to transform everyday materials, such as cardboard or local fabrics, into powerful visual statements made his practice both accessible and intellectually layered. Avedissian maintained a modest, reclusive lifestyle, allowing his work to speak for itself across continents and generations.
(Photographed in October 2023)