About the Artist

Amira Tanany (b. 1989, KSA) is an Egyptian illustrator and associate professor holding a BFA, MFA, and PhD from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Helwan University, where she developed a visual language rooted in cultural identity. Her work blends emotional depth with social and political reflection through vibrant, woodcut-inspired surreal illustrations that reinterpret Egyptian folklore, including its music, tales, proverbs, rituals, and symbols. Her award-winning project Egyptian Street, recipient of the 9th Mahmoud Kahil Award (2024), explores how folkloric narratives shape collective memory and remain relevant today, incorporating recurring motifs such as fish, bread, jasmine, mandarins, tea cups, and rosaries. Tanany also addresses women’s struggles in her art, highlighting issues such as the ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan, the social burdens on Arab women, and violence against women in Sudan, and has recently expanded into editorial illustration for regional magazines. She has exhibited both locally and internationally and has held three solo exhibitions in Egypt. Her accolades include first place at the Nasser bin Hamad Youth Creativity Award (Bahrain, 2021), recognition at Behance Portfolio Reviews (Egypt), the Mahmoud Kahil Award (2024), third prizes at Diritti a Colori (Italy) and Dots & Circles (USA), and a shortlist selection in Communication Arts (2025).