Sherin Guirguis (born 1974 in Luxor, Egypt) is a contemporary visual artist and academic based in Los Angeles, California.[1] Guirguis combines mixed media, site specific installations, and architectural elements in her work to address cultural identity, social structures, and the dynamics of agency and power.[2] Guirguis has had solo exhibitions of her work at 18th Street Art Center (Santa Monica, California), The Third Line Gallery (Dubai),[3] Shulamit Nazarian Gallery (Venice, California),[4] and LAXART (Los Angeles).[5] In 2012, Guirguis received the California Community Foundation Fellowship for Visual Artists[6] and the 2014–15 City of Los Angeles Individual Artist Fellowship.[7]
Guirguis integrates Eastern ornamentation with Western minimalist aesthetics, creating dialogues that reflect both cultural heritage and contemporary themes. Her artistic approach involves extensive research, including community interviews and exploration of archival materials, ensuring the symbolic significance of her chosen patterns, materials and colors are deeply embedded in their cultural and historical contexts.[8] One notable project Western participation and Desert X AIUIa, a contemporary art exhibition held in Saudi Arabia in 2020. Despite controversy due to political circumstances, she collaborated with local women artisans, holding weaving workshops and art lectures aimed at reviving traditional Arab handicrafts and encouraging intercultural dialogue.[9]
Curatorial work
Sherin Guirguis has made significant contributions as a curator. In 2012, she curated an exhibition at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel foyer in Los Angeles, incorporating installations, video art and performance art despite spatial challenges posed by the building's architecture. Artists featured included Alexis Zotto and Renee Petropoulos whose works were integrated into the exhibition space.[10]
Academic career
She holds the position of Professor of Practice and Chair Foundation at the University of Southern California's Roski School of Art and Design, where she contributes to the development of emerging artists and designers through her teaching and mentorship.[11]
Awards and recognition
Sherin Guirguis has received various awards and fellowships acknowledging artistic contributions and commitment to diversity in the arts. These include the City of Los Angeles Individual Artist Fellowship and the Zumberge Diversity and Equity award. Her work has been featured in notable publications such as ArtForm and The New York Times, highlighting her ability to integrate artistic expression and with historical and social inquiry.[12] Her work is acquired or held in the collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art,[13]Museum of Fine Arts, Houston,[14]Orange County Museum of Art,[15]Las Vegas Art Museum,[16] U.S. Department of State,[17] and Metropolitan Authority Los Angeles.[15] Guirguis is an associate professor in the Practice of Fine Art at the Roski School of Art and Design at the University of Southern California.[18]
Guirguis draws from Western and Middle Eastern influences as is seen in her Mashrabiya patterns punctuated by a bold neon palette.[19]
Guirguis’ work has been noted for merging aesthetic practice with social awareness. Her projects often draw attention to histories that have been overlooked or erased contributing to broader discussions on feminism, cultural memory and social justice. Operating within an intersectional framework, Sherin Guirguis addresses various aspects of identity and societal structures simultaneously, making contributions to contemporary art feminist, and cultural studies. Scholars such as Hoda Elsadda highlight the importance of Guirguis's work and facilitating conversations about marginalized histories, emphasizing her role in fostering critical engagement through her artistic endeavours.[21]
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