Cairo – Maii Abdo:
Hailing from Alexandria—a city where art is as vital as the Mediterranean breeze—fine artist Olivia Anis emerged with an early, unshakable conviction: that painting is not a mere hobby, but a profound destiny. From her earliest years, Anis viewed art through a different lens; she did not merely apply color to paper but sought to distill complex emotions into lines and shades.
Her journey was anchored by maternal support, which saw her through the prestigious Faculty of Fine Arts. Drawing inspiration from the raw, emotive brushwork of Vincent van Gogh, Anis favors warm palettes and visible textures, eschewing “cold perfection” in favor of works that breathe with life and intentionality.
A Catalyst for Change & Professional LeadershipAnis has established herself as a formidable name in the Egyptian art scene through participations in high-profile exhibitions, such as “Colors of Life” at Al-Ahram Foundation and “The Bride of the Mediterranean” at the Italian Consulate.
Beyond the studio, she occupies a vital leadership role as an active member of the Art Egypt Foundation, serving as its official representative for organizing and curating exhibitions in Alexandria.
Perhaps her most evocative work is her piece addressing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Defying the traditional exhibition route, Anis chose to bypass galleries and gifted the painting directly to the “Women of Egypt” platform.
The work serves as a haunting visual manifesto against societal trauma, depicting a young girl in a state of “heavy silence,” a bleeding rose blooming within her—a testament to Anis’s belief that art must tackle the world’s most sensitive scars.Artistic PhilosophyHer portfolio masterfully navigates the human and animal form to channel strength and silent resilience.
After a decade-long hiatus from professional painting—a period she spent refining her craft through study and sketching—she returned with her “Noble Gaze” series, where the horse becomes a symbol of both majestic power and delicate vulnerability.
Today, Olivia Anis continues to push boundaries, experimenting with tree trunks, balletic movement, and glass art. Her vision remains singular: to cultivate a style so distinct that the spirit of the work speaks for itself.
Her message to the world is one of relentless growth: “Regardless of age, give art your time; observe, evolve, and execute”. For Anis, every canvas is not just an image, but a wave in a vast sea, carrying within its depths the story of the human condition.
