Two Dried Fish on Blue Ground, 2006

Samir Fouad, born in 1944 in Heliopolis, Cairo, is a distinguished Egyptian artist renowned for his mastery in watercolor painting. Despite his early passion for art and music—particularly the violin—he pursued a B.Sc. in Communications Engineering from Cairo University, graduating in 1966. Fouad balanced a 34-year career in information technology with his artistic endeavors, allowing him to travel extensively and stay attuned to global art trends. His artistic journey was notably influenced by his studies under the esteemed Egyptian artist Hassan Soliman between 1979 and 1982.

Actively participating in the Egyptian art scene since the early 1980s, Fouad has held over fifteen solo exhibitions in Egypt since 1997. His international presence includes exhibitions in the USA, UK, Russia, Italy, Dubai, Kenya, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. In 2001, he represented Egypt at the International Watercolor Biennale, and in 2011, he participated in the Luxor International Symposium. A significant milestone in his career was the 2018 retrospective organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture at the Ofok Gallery and the Mahmoud Khalil Museum in Cairo.

Fouad's work is characterized by a fascination with time and movement, often depicted through dynamic brushstrokes and a unique treatment of subjects that appear in motion. His themes frequently draw from Egyptian culture, portraying scenes such as Nile maidens, oriental dancers, and musicians. Beyond his visual art, Fouad authored a book on watercolors, contributing significantly to the discourse on this medium in the Arabic language. His artworks have been auctioned multiple times, with realized prices ranging from $2,071 to $4,324, the latter achieved for "Seven-Up" at Strauss & Co. in Cape Town in 2023.