Hassan Al Sharq

Hassan AL-Sharq was a self-taught Egyptian artist from the village of Zawya Sultan in Minya Province. Born into a butcher’s family in the 1950s, he was expected to follow the family trade but instead developed a passion for painting, teaching himself using animal skin scraps as canvas and natural pigments he created himself.

He became known for his distinctive, densely composed works inspired by Egyptian folklore and rural traditions. After being discovered by a German scholar in his 30s, his work gained international recognition, allowing him to dedicate his life fully to art. His paintings are exhibited in major galleries in Cairo, and his home studio remains preserved as a cultural space after his passing in 2022.