Salah Taher

 b. 1911, Cairo, Egypt. 

d. 2007 (aged 95).

Saleh Taher is a prolific painter who contributed greatly to Egyptian arts. His focus on colour had liberated him from tradition. He started his career in realism and transcended to figurative symbolism and then abstraction, which brought him the most acclaim.

Taher graduated from the Higher School of Fine Arts in 1934 and went on to teach art at the al-Abasseya High School in Alexandria. Appointed as the head of Cairo’s Museum of Modern Art in the 1960s, he gained a lot of recognition. He then worked as the General Director of the Opera House in Cairo and then became an artistic consultant at al-Ahram, which now holds 35 of his paintings. He worked al al-Ahram till he passed away of illness, however, his legacy lives on in his work, which is showcased around the world. 

EXHIBITIONS

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

Cairo Cultural Club – Egypt, 1953. 

Art Gallery, Commerce Chamber – Cairo, Egypt, 1964. 

Ekhnaton Art Gallery – Cairo, Egypt, 1965. 

Port Said – Alexandria, Egypt; Damanhour, Egypt, 1967. 

Private show at home – Giza, Egypt, 1968. 

Alexandria Fine Arts Museum – Egypt, 1969. 

Sultan Gallery – Kuwait, 1969. 

Art Gallery, American University of Cairo – Egypt, 1971.

Annual shows, Egyptian Center of International Cultural Cooperation – Zamalek, Egypt, 1972-2005. 

Shomous Art Gallery – Cairo, Egypt, 1992. 

Zamalek Art Gallery – Egypt, 2005. 

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

Alexandria International Biennial – Egypt 1981. 

The National Festival – USA, 1981. 

21st National Art Exhibition – Egypt, 1990. 

24th National Art Exhibition – Egypt, 1995.

25th National Art Exhibition – Egypt, 1997.

27th National Art Exhibition – Egypt, 2001. 

7th Salon of Mini Works of Art (Guest of Honour) – Egypt, 2004. 

Premiere Portrait Salon, Cairo Atelier – Egypt, 2005. 

29th National Art Exhibition – Egypt, 2005. 

AWARDS AND HONORS

Guggenheim Prix – 1960. 

Prize – Alexandria International Biennale, 1961. 

State Honouring Prize & Merit for Arts – Egypt, 1974. 

Emertitus Ph.D. – The Art Academy, Egypt. 

Mubarak Priz – Egypt, 2001.