The Best Contemporary Art Spaces in Cairo
By Something CuratedFrom artist-run initiatives and independent festivals to commercial galleries and more, Something Curated has compiled a guide to Cairo’s contemporary art scene – touching on film and music too. With special thanks to Egyptian director and photographer Zeina Aref for her on-the-ground recommendations.
Gypsum Gallery
Opened in 2013, Gypsum is the brainchild of curator Aleya Hamza. Situated in the Maadi district, the gallery represents a diverse roster of artists working across the SWANA region, Europe, and the United States. Gypsum’s programme bridges the gap between non-profit – championing experimental practices and special projects – and commercial representation. A prominent figure in Egypt’s art scene, through the gallery, Hamza has placed the works of several regional artists in major international institutions’ collections, including those of the Whitney and Guggenheim.
3 Street 218, Maadi as Sarayat Al Gharbeyah, Maadi, Cairo Governorate 4213042
access
Since its founding in 1998, Townhouse, reincarnated as access, has played a seminal role in the contemporary art landscape of Egypt. Birthed as a non-profit space in Downtown Cairo, it has supported generations of artists through exhibitions, symposia, residencies, and outreach initiatives, and has been instrumental in spawning new art spaces – including exhibition venues, subsidised studios, and a performing arts centre in Rawabet.
access (formerly Townhouse Gallery) – 10 Al Nabrawi St – off Champollion St. Downtown, Cairo Governorate 4272140
Ubuntu Art Gallery
Ubuntu Art Gallery was established in 2014 by Ahmed Eldabaa as a separate entity to his family business, which has been dealing in antiques in Cairo’s famed Khan ElKhalili market and the Zamalek neighbourhood for three generations. Taking its name from the Swahili word meaning “I am because we all are,” the project is rooted in an ethos of interconnectedness. The gallery presents contemporary and modern Egyptian art through two monthly exhibitions, as well as a lecture series called Ubuntu Dialogues.
20 Hassan Sabry St. Zamalek Entrance، from Ibn Zinky St, Zamalek, Cairo Governorate
ARD Art Institute
Founded by Hana El-Beblawy in 2022, ARD Art Institute operates as a multifunctional incubator, offering residencies, exhibitions, and workshops that support emerging artists. With a mission to fill gaps in Cairo’s art infrastructure, ARD aims to foster meaningful exchange between artists and audiences. An inclusive meeting point for local and international practitioners, the institute’s flexible programming responds to the evolving needs of the city’s vibrant creative community.
2 El Saraya Al Kobra, Qasr El Nil, Cairo Governorate 4272035
TAM Gallery
TAM Gallery was founded in 2012 by artist Lina Mowafy and childhood friend Dina Shaaban with a mission to make art accessible to everyone. Starting as an online platform, it has since grown into a large exhibition space on the outskirts of Cairo, showcasing a vast collection of contemporary Egyptian art by emerging and established artists. Mowafy’s belief that art should be enjoyed by all drives the gallery’s ethos and programming.
Cairo – Alexandria Desert Rd, Kerdasa, Cairo Governorate 3651001. 2KM after the Mehwar Exit. Between Dandy Mall and Total petrol station, behind Shoura and Starbucks
Contemporary Image Collective (CiC)
Established in 2004 by a group of visual artists and photographers in Cairo, the Contemporary Image Collective (CiC) is a non-profit initiative dedicated to nurturing image-makers, in the broadest sense of the term. It fosters regional and international collaboration through curated exhibitions, occasional artist residencies, and long-term exchange projects. CiC’s itinerant and evolving programme highlights socially and politically conscious practices rooted in visual culture.
2 Etehaad Al Mohamin، Al Arab St, Cairo Governorate
Darb 1718
Darb 1718 was founded by Egyptian artist and cultural activist Moataz Nasr in a historic part of Cairo once known as Fustat. Inspired by a legacy of resistance, the space promotes contemporary art and cultural dialogue as tools for social change. The original site, comprising multiple exhibition spaces, a theatre, an outdoor cinema for independent film screenings, as well as gardens, was controversially demolished in early 2024. Currently, Nasr continues to offer arts and crafts workshops in a smaller rented space nearby, aiming to keep the spirit of Darb 1718 alive.
No current permanent address. Check Darb 1718’s Instagram page for upcoming event locations.
Underground Social
Underground Social, behind ASWAT Festival, is a creative platform focused on emerging talent across the SWANA region and the diaspora. Operating as both an arts and media house, it provides exhibition space, production services, and career support for visual and musical artists. With a focus on inclusivity, accessibility, and collaboration, Underground Social has cultivated an energetic presence in Cairo through organising concerts and art events, as well as producing digital content.
19 Kamal, El Din Salah Street, Qasr El Nil, Cairo Governorate 11461
Zawya Cinema
Zawya Cinema was established in 2014 as one of the first independent cinemas in Egypt, with the aim of filling a gap in Cairo’s cinematic and cultural landscape. In addition to hosting various festivals throughout the year, including the Manassat Film Festival, Zawya screens a diverse selection of films from around the world, ranging from feature films and shorts to documentaries, experimental works, and retrospectives. The cinema’s programme also places a strong emphasis on local independent films, in an effort to support and promote the work of emerging Egyptian and Arab filmmakers.
15 Emad El-Deen, Oraby, Al Azbakeya, Cairo Governorate 4320111
The Cairo Art Book Fair
The Cairo Art Book Fair (CABF) is an annual event held in Cairo, alongside a travelling selection of publications presented at art book fairs and venues worldwide. The project celebrates the diversity of publishing practices that happen today in Egypt, majority Arabic-speaking communities, the Mediterranean basin, the African continent, and beyond. CABF serves as a dynamic hub, bringing together art books, zines, publications, publishers, editors, artists, cultural workers, thinkers, and readers. The fourth edition will take place in December 2025.
Location to be announced.
Feature image: Basim Magdy, Fate Brought Us to the Shores of a Lava Lake at Dawn (no. 1), 2014. Image courtesy of the artist and Gypsum Gallery