Dr. Mourad Darwish is a contemporary Egyptian visual artist and academic, born in 1986 in Beheira, Egypt. He graduated with honors from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Helwan University in 2008, specializing in Mural Painting. Currently, he serves as an Assistant Lecturer in the Painting Department at the same institution, where he blends academic guidance with artistic exploration, focusing on developing students’ creative identities and visual literacy.
Darwish has participated in several prominent exhibitions across Egypt, including the 47th and 49th Youth Salon Exhibitions at the Cairo Atelier, the Creativity Festival at the Supreme Council of Culture, and exhibitions at venues such as Picasso Gallery, Cordoba Gallery, and Saad Zaghloul Cultural Center. His solo and group exhibitions often explore themes of structure, symbolism, and the narrative potential of visual art.
Beyond his academic and artistic work, Dr. Darwish is also active in the fields of interior design and computer graphics, reflecting his multidisciplinary approach to visual culture. His work is recognized for its expressive depth, technical precision, and philosophical engagement with the viewer.
In March 2025, Dr. Mourad Darwish unveiled his third solo exhibition, titled “Drawing and Sketches”, at the Grand Hall of the Faculty of Fine Arts in Zamalek, Cairo. The exhibition, which ran for two weeks starting March 9, showcased 153 works that delve into the heart of Egyptian urban life, capturing the essence of Cairo’s streets, historical landmarks, and its people.
Employing mediums such as charcoal, ink, and pencil, Darwish’s pieces reflect a deep connection to the city’s heritage. The artworks range from detailed portraits to expansive cityscapes, including scenes from historic areas like Al-Muizz Street and Downtown Cairo. Many of these pieces originated as teaching materials, later refined into standalone artworks, offering viewers insight into both the artist’s creative process and his pedagogical approach.
Beyond mere representation, the exhibition serves as a reflective commentary on memory, emotion, and the interplay between intentionality and spontaneity in art. Darwish also incorporated video elements, allowing attendees to witness his techniques and methodologies firsthand, bridging the gap between artist and audience.
Most recently, Dr. Mourad Darwish hosted a thought-provoking seminar at “Major Murad Villa” in Gezira Club, Zamalek, titled “Art, Cinema, and Advertising”.
The discussion explored the intersections and shared visual language between fine arts, cinema, and advertising. It addressed how image-making has evolved into a medium that is both aesthetic and functional, carrying symbolic and narrative power.
The seminar examined how advertising drew inspiration from visual art — particularly in composition, color, and symbolism — and how cinema further developed these tools to craft vivid, rhythmic visual storytelling.
Dr. Darwish also reflected on the role these three disciplines play in shaping contemporary visual awareness, influencing popular taste, and constructing meaning in an era defined by speed, spontaneity, and visual overload.
