Recognized by the International Pastel Journal in 2016 as one of the Top 10
Pastel Artists worldwide to watch. (www.artistnetwork.com/the-pastel-journal-magazine).
Biography:
Halla Shafey PSA PS IAPS(MC) is an international multiple award winning Egyptian pastel artist, educator and juror. Halla has received 18 international awards and recognitions since becoming a full-time artist in 2012. Her abstract works have been featured in international publications including the Pastel Journal, Pratique Des Arts, Artists and illustrators Magazine, the Globe and Pastel World. A major book published in Egypt in 2022 includes her works and biography along with 54 prominent artists. She is a Signature member of the Pastel Society of America and a regular instructor at their Pastel Academy. She is an elected member of the Pastel Society of England and a member of the Master Circle of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS). Her works have been acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in Egypt and by private and corporate collectors around the world.
Formal Art Instruction and Training:
Though a largely self-taught artist, and attended numerous undergraduate courses in
Art History and Islamic Art and Architecture, artist received the following formal art instruction:
October 2006- January 2011: Attended the atelier of renowned Egyptian artist Magd El Sagini
and received weekly instruction in classical drawing and painting using a variety of media.
February -March 2012: Attended four one-day workshops by artists Jenny Halstead,
Anne Wilkinson, John Tookey and Roger Dellar organized by the UK Pastel Society at the
Mall Galleries in London, England.
September 2013: Received a scholarship from the Pastel Society of America (PSA)
to attend a three-day workshop by artist Richard Mckinley.
Solo Exhibitions:
September 2012: First solo exhibition in Cairo, Egypt, entitled ‘Passion for Pastels!’ was held
under the patronage of the Egyptian Minister of Culture at Bab- Selim Gallery, the Egyptian Museum of Modern Art.
March-April 2015: Second solo exhibition entitled ‘I have a Garden’ at Art Lounge Gallery, Cairo.
Gave a two-day workshop on Expressive Pastels alongside the exhibition.
September 2015: Third solo exhibition entitled ‘Purple’ at the Bab-Selim Gallery, Museum of Modern Art, Egypt.
Upcoming March 2020: Fourth Solo exhibition entitled ‘Cosmic Messages’ at the Nile Gallery, Cairo, Egypt.
Group Exhibitions in Egypt:
November 2012- January 2013: Participated in a group exhibition held by Doroub Gallery, Cairo, Egypt entitled “Small Works Exhibition”.
November 2013-January 2014: Participated in a group exhibition, The Small Works Exhibition at Doroub Gallery, Cairo, Egypt
May 2014: Participated in the group exhibition on Siwa at the Mahmoud Mokhtar Museum, Cairo.
June 2014: Participated in a group exhibition at Hanager Hall, Cairo Opera House.
July 2014: Participated in a group exhibition at Amir Taz Palace organized by the Cultural Development Fund, Ministry of Culture, Cairo.
November 2014: Exhibited works in a six-women exhibition entitled “The Journey” at Art Lounge Gallery, Zamalek, Cairo. Delivered a talk and demo on Abstract Painting with Pastels: Concepts and Techniques.
November 2014: Participated in a group exhibition organized by the Cultural Development Fund, Ministry of Culture.
May 2016: Work selected by jury for exhibition at the 38th National General Exhibition at the Palace of Culture at the Opera Grounds in Zamalek. The work was acquired as part of the permanent collection of the Egyptian Museum of Modern Art.
March 2017: Boat painted at the International Burullus Symposium was showcased in an exhibition by the Ministry of Culture at the Palace of Culture, Opera Grounds, Cairo.
April 2017: Participated in a four-women exhibition at the Nile Gallery, Cairo.
September 2017: Two paintings were selected by the Selection Committee for Egypt’s 39th National General Exhibition at the Palace of Culture, Opera Grounds, Cairo.
December 2018: Work entitled ‘Where Passion Resides’ was selected by the judges and exhibited at the 40th National General Exhibition held at the Museum of Modern Art in Cairo.
March 2019: Participated in a group exhibition by female artists at the Faculty of Applied Arts, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
Recognition in Egypt:
January 2014: Invited by the Organization of Cultural Palaces, Ministry of Culture to participate in the Siwa Annual Art Retreat.
Two paintings were acquired by the Ministry of Culture and are part of their permanent collection.
February 2106: Invited by the Egyptian Museum of Modern Art to give several specialized workshops in pastels to practicing artists and received an Honorary Certificate.
October 2016 and October 2017; Invited to participate in the 3rd and 4th International Burullus Symposium for Painting on Walls and Boats, Egypt.
December 2016: Invited by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture to participate in the 9th International Luxor Symposium for Painting.
International Exhibitions, Pastel Salons and Biennales:
June 2013: Work selected by the jury of the 114th Annual Pastel Society in England exhibition held at the Mall Galleries in London.
This was the first time ever for an Egyptian or Arab artist to be selected to exhibit alongside society members.
September 2013: Painting entitled “Cactus on Kilim” was juried into the 41st Annual Exhibition of the Pastel Society of America (PSA). www.pastelsocietyofamerica.org
November-December 2013: Painting entitled ‘Considering a Cactus’ was juried into the Second International Pastel Biennial of Spain (Biennale Internationale de Pastel en Espana) in Oviedo, Spain
March 2014: Invited by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture to participate in the Festival of Fine Arts Exhibition held at the Egyptian Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, Italy. Two pastel paintings were exhibited.
February 2015: Painting entitlrd ‘Journey Through Egypt’ selected by the Pastel Society of England jury for the 116th Annual Exhibition held at the Mall Galleries, London, England.
September 2016: Work entitled Nile Boats juried into the Annual Exhibition of the Pastel Society of America held at the National Arts Club, New York City.
October 2016: Invited as one of the top 100 pastel painters worldwide to participate in the 2nd International Pastel Biennale in Suzhou, China. Work entitled One World’ exhibited at the Ming Gallery
May 2017: Invited by the Pastel Society of the East of Paris to participate in the 4th International Pastel Biennial held at the Château de la Forét, Livry-Gargan.
September 2018: Painting entitled “Desert Dream” was selected and exhibited at the Annual Pastel Society of America Exhibition at the National Arts Club, New York.
October 2018: Painting entitled ‘Bright Side’ was selected by the Jury and exhibited at the 3rd International Pastel Biennale in Suzhou, China.
February 2019: Two pastel paintings entitled “Memoires of a Village” and “Red Sea” were accepted and exhibited at the 120th Annual Pastel Society of England exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London.
May/June 2019: Painting accepted in ‘Pastel World’, the international biannual convention and exhibition of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) in Albqurque, U.S.A.
October 2019: Invited to attend the celebration of China Centennial of Pastels in Suzhou by the China Pastel Network and Ming Gallery.
February 2020: Three paintings were accepted by the Pastel Society of England at the 121st Annual Exhibition held at the Mall Galleries in London.
April 2020: Painting accepted at the 36th Juried International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) to be exhibited in Dunedin Fine Art Center in Florida USA.
Upcoming October 2020: Invited to exhibit with the Art of Pastel in France Association (APF) at the Abbaye du Valasse in Normandy in October 2020.
International Recognition and Awards:
June 2013: Painting entitled “Girl from the South of Egypt’ was juried into the 114th Annual Pastel Exhibition of the UK Pastel Society and won First Prize for non-members www.thepastelsociety.org.uk/annualshow/2013
October 2013: Elected by the Governing Board of the Pastel Society of America as Signature Member in recognition of excellence in pastel. Currently the first and only Egyptian /Arab artist to have earned this accolade
December 2013: The Pastel Journal, the world’s leading publication on pastel art published my award winning painting “Girl from the South of Egypt” in a feature article on the UK Pastel Society.
December 2016: Selected and featured by the International Pastel Journal published in the United States as one of the Top Ten Pastel artists world-wide to be watched.
May 2015: Invited by the Pastel Society of East Paris www.regardsdepastellistes.fr to become a member and to exhibit with them at their Biennale in Paris, France.
October 2017: Awarded 4th Prize (abstract category) for painting ‘Journey Through Egypt’ in the international pastel competition Pastel 100 organized by the Pastel Journal from amongst over 2,500 paintings. Painting and artist interview appeared in a special edition of the Pastel journal in early 2018.
June 2018: My painting ‘Memoirs of A Village’ was awarded an Honorable Mention in the International Pastel 100 Competition and was published in the Pastel Journal in April 2019.
November 2018: Received the Bronze Award for my work entitled Awakening from the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS).
February 2019: Received the Henri Roche’ Award for my painting entitled ‘Red Sea’ at the 120th Annual Exhibition of the Pastel Society of England at the Mall Galleries, London.
July 2019: Cover Story on my works and process featured in the French art magazine ‘Pratique Des Arts”.
October 2019: Received First Prize for my painting entitled ‘Song for the Moonlight’ in the international Pastel 100 Competition (Abstract Category) and painting featured in article in the April issue of the Pastel Journal.
February 2020: Received the Catalogue Second Prize at the Pastel Society of England 121st Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London.
February 2020: Elected as a member of the Pastel Society of England established in 1898.
Acquisitions:
The artist’s works can be found in the Museum of Modern Art in Egypt, the Ministry of Culture and in private and corporate collections in Egypt and abroad.
To Read Halla Shafey's Professional CV[Click here]
