Engy Mohsen Sarhan is an artist and curator who lives and works between Zürich and Cairo. In her work, she examines notions of ‘participation’ and ‘collectivity’ by creating frameworks that invite non-artists and artists to think about how spaces can be organized to include the ‘other’. While spatial thinking remains at the core of her interdisciplinary practice, she works—solo and collaboratively—with publishing as a central structure and conversation as a primary medium.

She holds a master's degree in Transdisciplinary Studies in the Arts at Zürich University of the Arts. Her ongoing research centres around mapping the body of knowledge that shapes independent art schools and forms of pedagogy in relation to language and the mobility of individuals and communities. She was previously part of Artists for Artists (AfA) Masterclass: Radical Care, MASS Alexandria, Roznama Studio Program, and School of Commons. She was the artist-in-residence at Singapore Art Museum, 2024, Cittadellarte - Fondazione Pistoletto, Biella, 2023, Art Omi: Artists, New York, 2022, and Rote Fabrik, Zürich, 2021. She is the recipient of many production grants; AFAC Visual Arts Grant, Mophradat Artists Grant, Visual Arts: A Flourishing Field Grant, Pro Helvetia’s Parallel Sphere, Warehouse421’s Project Revival Fund, Art Jameel Research and Practice Grant, among others.

Engy is one of the five founding members of K-oh-llective, a platform for resource-sharing among artists, writers and curators in Egypt and the Arab world. Engy is also part of the newly formed curatorial team at Les Complices*, a self-organised community-based space in Zürich.


Education ︎︎︎ 2024–2025: MSc Modern Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford, UK.
︎︎︎ 2022–2024: MA Transdisciplinary Studies in the Arts, Department of Cultural Analysis and Mediation (DKV), Zürich University of the Arts, Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ 2013–2018: BSc Architecture and Urban Design, German University Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ 2017: Bachelor's thesis, Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU), Chair of Architectural Design, Building Typology & Spatial Organization, Cottbus, DE.


Para-Institutional Art Schools
︎︎︎ 2023 - School of Commons, Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ 2022 - School of Commons, Zürich/Online.

︎︎︎ 2020 - Artists for Artists (AfA) Masterclass: Radical Care, Online.
︎︎︎ 2019 - MASS Alexandria Independent Studio/Study Program, Alexandria, EG.
︎︎︎ 2018 - Roznama 6 Studio Program, Cairo, EG.


Residencies
︎︎︎ 2024 - SAM Curatorial and Research Resident, Singapore.
︎︎︎ 2023 - UNIDEE Residency, Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto, Biella, IT.
︎︎︎ 2023 - Curatorial Team Residency, Les Complices*, Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ 2022 - Art Omi: Artists Residency, New York, USA.
︎︎︎ 2021 - Rote Fabrik, Pro Helvetia Studio Residency, Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Homebound Residency, Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi, UAE/Online.
︎︎︎ 2020 - YARAT Contemporary Art Space, Baku, AZ. (canceled)
︎︎︎ 2020 - The Lab at Darat Al Funun, Amman, JO. (canceled)
︎︎︎ 2020 - Triangle France, Astérides, Marseille, FR. (shortlisted)


Awards & Scholarships
︎︎︎ 2024 - The Clarendon Fund Scholarship, UK.
︎︎︎ 2024 - Africa-Oxford Initiative, Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, UK.
︎︎︎ 2023 - ZHdK Fund for International and Intercultural Student Projects, CH.
︎︎︎ 2023 - The Hirschmann Foundation Scholarship, CH.
︎︎︎ 2022 - Rolex Mentorship Protégé Initiative, Architecture. (nominated)
︎︎︎ 2022 - Excellence Scholarship, Fondation ZHdK, CH.
︎︎︎ 2022 - Al Alfi Postgraduate Fellowship, Al Alfi Foundation, EG.
︎︎︎ 2022 - 100 Artists, artlink and SüdKulturFonds, CH.
︎︎︎ 2019 - Villa Vassilieff, Pernod Ricard Fellowship, FR. (shortlisted)
︎︎︎ 2019 - Roznama 7, Solo Exhibition Prize by Soma Art Gallery, EG.
︎︎︎ 2014 - 25th Youth Salon, Collection of CIB Bank, EG.

Grants
︎︎︎ 2023 - School of Commons, project grant, CH.
︎︎︎ 2023 - Regional Training & Events, AFAC, as K-oh-llective, LB.

︎︎︎ 2022 - School of Commons, project grant, CH.
︎︎︎ 2021 - Visual Arts Grant Program, AFAC, with Souakina Joual, LB.
︎︎︎ 2021 - Production grant, Pro Helvetia Cairo, CH.
︎︎︎ 2021 - Production grant, A.M. Qattan Foundation, VAFF Project, PS/SE.

︎︎︎ 2021 - Grants for Artists, Mophradat, with Souakina Joual, BE.
︎︎︎ 2021 - All-Round Culture, Youth-led Initiatives, as Dataland, EU.

︎︎︎ 2021 - Wijhat travel grant, Culture Resource, LB.
︎︎︎ 2021 - General mobility grant, Fanak Fund, FR.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Self-Organizations, Mophradat, as K-oh-llective, BE.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Homebound Residency production grant, Warehouse421, UAE.

︎︎︎ 2020 - Parallel Sphere production grant, Pro Helvetia Cairo, CH.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Project Revival Fund, Warehouse421, UAE.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Art Jameel Research and Practice Platform, UAE.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Production grant, A.M. Qattan Foundation, VAFF Project, PS/SE.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Grants to Artists, British Council Cairo, with Sarah Maher, UK.
︎︎︎ 2019 - Grants for Artists, Mophradat, with Sarah Maher, BE.


Public Events & Workshops
︎︎︎ 2023 - “The music is the making of the music" with Dimitri Reist, HKB Bern.
︎︎︎ 2023 - “Beyond the practice" talk moderated by Sarah Sarofim, TCC, Cairo.

︎︎︎ 2023 - “Undercurrents III: Language et Médiation”, Mahal Art Space, Tangier.
︎︎︎ 2023 - “Machi Mashy: Book Launch”, L’appartement 22, Rabat.
︎︎︎ 2023 - “Machi Mashy: Open Discussion”, Contemporary Image Collective.
︎︎︎ 2023 - “Machi Mashy: Book Launch”, 40Mustaqel Studio, Cairo.
︎︎︎ 2023 - “K-oh-llective: where do we go from here?”, ARDforart, Cairo.
︎︎︎ 2022 - “Special Measures”, online talk, Khalil Al Sakakini Cultural Center.
︎︎︎ 2022 - “Undercurrents II: Collective Making”, as K-oh-llective, Marrakech.
︎︎︎ 2022 - “Experimental Pedagogies in Practice”, School of Commons, Zürich.
︎︎︎ 2022 - “How to Love Many in Many Ways”, School of Commons, Zürich.
︎︎︎ 2022 - “How to Love Many in Many Ways”, Volumes Book Fair, Zürich.
︎︎︎ 2022 - “How to Love Many in Many Ways”, Inst. Art Gender Nature, Basel.
︎︎︎ 2022 - “Recipes of Commoning”, as K-oh-llective, Frame Finland, Helsinki.
︎︎︎ 2022 - “City as University”, symposium, Floating University, Berlin, DE.
︎︎︎ 2022 - “Open Studios”, Art Omi: Artists, New York, USA.
︎︎︎ 2022 - “SoC Intensive Weekend”, with Petra Mrša & Philip Ullrich, Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ 2022 - “Kitchen Sessions”, School of Commons, online. 
︎︎︎ 2021 - “Homebound Residency: Artist Talk”, Warehouse421, online.
︎︎︎ 2021 - “Zürich Art Weekend”, open studio at Rote Fabrik.

︎︎︎ 2021 - “How To Love Many In Many Ways”, workshops in Zürich.
︎︎︎ 2021 - “Shish Bish”, Workshop by Makouk and Medrar.
︎︎︎ 2020 - “Live Praxes #2: “Written to be Spoken” by Mohamed Abdelkarim.

︎︎︎ 2020 - “Qaaf Laam in the Chatroom”, online talk, moderated by Noor Abed.
︎︎︎ 2019 - “In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts”, Bamako Biennial public program.
︎︎︎ 2019 - “Food Ethnography Workshop” workshop with Mai Amer, CiC.
︎︎︎ 2018 - “The Land Speaks to you in Signs” workshop with Ala Yunis, Zawya.
︎︎︎ 2017 - “Naeema’s Office is Bleeding” workshop with Hany Rashed, Medrar.


Publications
︎︎︎ 2025 - “Living to Learn: Art + Education in the Twenty First Century", Inventory Press, edited by Noah Simblist. (upcoming)
︎︎︎ 2024 - “Towards New Schools", Gerrit Rietveld Academie. (upcoming)
︎︎︎ 2023 - “K-oh-llective: Texts on Paper”, co-editor, collection of texts.
︎︎︎ 2023 - “Machi Mashy: What if it Works?”, w/ Soukaina Joual, Undercurrents.
︎︎︎ 2023 - “Maybe We’re in a Bad Marriage”, as K-oh-llective, NO NIIN Volume II.
︎︎︎ 2023 - “Dataland: Typology01: Administrative Buildings”, as project advisor.
︎︎︎ 2023 - “Seeen Magazine: Issue No.0”, interview by Mai El Gabry.
︎︎︎ 2023 - “Warmups and Cooldowns”, Eirini Sourgiadaki and HumDrumm Press.
︎︎︎ 2023 - “How to Love Many in Many Ways: Love Stories”, HumDrumm Press.
︎︎︎ 2022 - “Machi Mashy: Or, in Other Words Not Working”, w/ Soukaina Joual.
︎︎︎ 2022 - “Squatting the Internet”, as K-oh-llective, Rehearsing Hospitalities 4.
︎︎︎ 2022 - “OTTSASWEGO”, edited by C. Sissokho & S. Aboulaoula. (canceled)
︎︎︎ 2022 - “Maybe We’re in a Bad Marriage”, as K-oh-llective, NO NIIN Magazine.

︎︎︎ 2021 - “Notes on Collaboration”, edited by Mai El Wakil.
︎︎︎ 2020 - “The Thelos Society Earth” Issue I, edited by Georgia Kotretsos.

︎︎︎ 2020 - “Chatrooms: On Curating Spaces”, edited by Nour El Safoury.
︎︎︎ 2020 - “No ISBN: On Self-Publishing”, by Bernard Cella, Wael Ashry, Kayfa ta.
︎︎︎ 2019 - “Chatrooms: A Guidebook to Discursive Spaces”, self-published.
︎︎︎ 2018 - “Roznama 6”, booklet edited by N. El Safoury and M. Abdelkarim.
︎︎︎ 2018 - “Robabecciah: The Informal City”, Egyptian National Pavilion, 16th Venice Biennale of Architecture, edited by Mouaz Abozaid and Eslam El Mashtooly.


Book Fairs
︎︎︎ 2024 -  Index Art Book Fair*, Venice, IT.
︎︎︎ 2023 -  Cairo Art Book Fair, Cairo, EG. (as K-oh-llective)
︎︎︎ 2023 - Sprint Art Book Fair*, Milan, IT.

︎︎︎ 2023 - Volumes: Art Publishing Days, Zürich, CH. (as Les Complices)
︎︎︎ 2023 - Focal Point, Sharjah Art Foundation, UAE.
︎︎︎ 2023 - Miss Read*, Berlin, DE.
︎︎︎ 2023 - I Never Read*, Basel, CH.
︎︎︎ 2022 - Cairo Art Book Fair, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ 2022 - Volumes: Art Publishing Days, Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ 2022 - Focal Point*, Sharjah Art Foundation, UAE.
︎︎︎ 2022 - Athens Art Book Fair*, Athens, GR.


*through Cairo Art Book Fair as participants in the book fair
Collectives
︎︎︎ Les Complices* - Curatorial team with Kay Zhang, Paloma Ayala, Trinity Mesimé Njume-Ebong, tracy september, Thi My Lien Nguyen, 2023-ONGOING.
︎︎︎ K-oh-llective - Co-founded with Nada El Kalaawy, Rania Atef, Mohamed Al Bakeri, Soukaina Joual, 2020-ONGOING.
︎︎︎ Dataland Publications - Project advisor, with Sherifa Hamed and Ahmed Morsi, 2021-ONGOING.

Group Exhibitions & Performances

2024
︎︎︎ “A Game is a Great Excuse" - Swiss Dance Days, Gessnerallee, Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ “The Institute for Embodied Creative Practices", Shedhalle, Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ “Yourself, Other/s, and Other Other/s" - workshop, Improper Walls, Vienna, AT.
︎︎︎ "Big Blue" - exhibition by MA Transdisziplinarität, Toni Areal, Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ “Rhapsody of Relations" - workshop, 421 Art Campus, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
︎︎︎ “Tender Ties: Lovers & Friends" - group exhibition, Das T/abor, Vienna, AT.
︎︎︎ “Network Culture" - group exhibition, 421 Art Campus, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

2023
︎︎︎ "Missile" - group exhibition by Medrar for Contemporary Art, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ "Furka Pass" - exhibition by MA Transdisziplinarität, Toni Areal, Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ "Hotel Tiger" - performance and art resort, Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ "Machi Mashy" - duo performance, Dar el Kitab, Casablanca, MA.
︎︎︎ "The Portal" - exhibition as Machi Mashy, Dar el Kitab, Casablanca, MA.
︎︎︎ "Roznama 9" - ARD Art Institution and Medrar, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ "In the Inner Bark of Trees" - as Machi Mashy, Archive Berlin, DE.
︎︎︎ "How to Love Many in Many Ways" - Oerlikon Traumhaus, Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ "How to Love Many in Many Ways" - Zentralwäscherei, Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ "Neubau Tropeninstitut" - Rhythmus Messy Cambio, Basel, CH.
︎︎︎ "Rehearsing Horizontalities" - Proto-Club4, Shedhalle, Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ "Pending" - installation and discussion, Blackbox Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ “Machi Mashy: A H(ij)acked Tongue” - LE 18, Marrakech, MA.
︎︎︎ “Machi Mashy: A H(ij)acked Tongue” - Wekalet Behna, Alexandria, EG.

2022
︎︎︎ “How to Love Many in Many Ways” - Iron Velvet Gallery, New York, USA.
︎︎︎ “Cairo Prints Exhibition - Edition III” - Cairopolitan, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “Radical Projects! The Classroom & Beyond” - Tasmeem Doha, VCUarts, QA.
︎︎︎ “Longing for Community” - curated by Aline Lenzhofer, fluc + fluc, AT.
︎︎︎ “Machi Mashy: A H(ij)acked Tongue” - listening session with Soukaina Joual.
︎︎︎ “100 Best Arabic Posters” - Saudi Design Festival (SA), Bibliotheca Alexandrina (EG), Birzeit University (PS).


2021
︎︎︎ “Art as Connection” - with Mohamed Abdelkarim, Kunsthaus Aargau, CH.
︎︎︎ “Bad Mother” - with Rania Atef, About Us! Festival, Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ “Embodied Encounters” - with Shahd Omar, Blackbox Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ “But these forms need to be created” - Khalil Sakakini Center, Ramallah, PS.
︎︎︎ “Remote Closeness” - Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Amman, JO.
︎︎︎ “Notes on Collaboration” - Contemporary Image Collective, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “Shish Bish” - Game-based exhibition by Medrar and Makouk, Cairo, EG.

︎︎︎ “Cairo Prints Exhibition - Edition II” - Cairopolitan, Institut français d'Égypte.
︎︎︎ “100 Best Arabic Posters” - Tahrir Cultural Center (EG), Warehouse421 (UAE), and Cultuurcentrum Ter Dilft (BE).

2020
︎︎︎ “Open Studios” - Artists for Artists IG takeover with Gabriel Hensche, DE.

︎︎︎ “Lichtblick” - Kunsthalle am Hamburger Platz, Berlin, DE.
︎︎︎ "Quarantine: A Capsule" - film by Rozeen Bisharat, FilmLab Palestine, DE/PS.
︎︎︎ “With Doors Closed, Artists Go Viral” - Medrar, Cairo, EG/online.
︎︎︎ “The Artist at Work” - Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center, Ramallah, PS.
︎︎︎ “No ISBN” - project by Bernhard Cella, MMAG Foundation, Amman, JO.


2019
︎︎︎ “No ISBN” - project by Bernhard Cella, Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
︎︎︎ “End of Year Exhibition” - MASS Alexandria, EG.
︎︎︎ “No ISBN” - project by Bernhard Cella, Beirut Art Centre, Beirut, LB.
︎︎︎ “The Other Side of the Sea” - performance with Alia Farid, Alexandria, EG.
︎︎︎ “Roznama 7” - Townhouse Gallery, Cairo, EG.


2018 ︎︎︎ “More Stories” - Cairo Photo Week, EG.
︎︎︎ “Waiting” - Cavafy Museum with Laima Kreivyte, by MASS Alexandria, EG.
︎︎︎ “The Act of Conversing in a Space that Remembers” - Roznama Studio, EG.
︎︎︎ “Robabecciah: The Informal City” - Egyptian National Pavilion, 16th Venice Biennale of Architecture, Venice, IT.


2017
︎︎︎ “Naeema’s Office is Bleeding” - Medrar for Contemporary Art, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “Mahmoud Kahil Award Exhibition” - American University in Beirut, LB.


2016
︎︎︎ “Out of the Fridge 3” - 3rd Koshk Stand, American University in Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “27th Youth Salon” - Palace of Arts, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “Shamareekh” - CairoComix Festival, American University in Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “CairoSaturdayWalks” - the Egyptian Cultural Centre in London, UK.
︎︎︎ “Metre x Metre: a free space for creativity” - Bibliotheca Alexandria, EG.
︎︎︎ “CairoSaturdayWalks” - Photopia and Makan, Cairo, EG.


2015
︎︎︎ “Dutch Houses” - The Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo (NVIC), EG.
︎︎︎ “25th Youth Salon” - Palace of Arts, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “Frozen in Time” - Photopia, Cairo, EG.


Press
︎︎︎ 2024 - “Eine wertvolle Form des Chaos”, ZETT Magazin, ZHdK, CH. (DE/EN)
︎︎︎ 2024 - “Le Portail”, Diptyk #66, review by Olivier Rachet, MA. (FR)
︎︎︎ 2023 - “Mosquitoes & Other Thieves in the Tropical Institute”, OOO, CH. (DE)
︎︎︎ 2023 - “Joual and Al-Abyad: Closeness to the Body”, Anfas Press, MA. (AR)
︎︎︎ 2023 - “Engy Mohsen”, Seen Magazine, Interview by Mai El Gabry, EG.
︎︎︎ 2022 - “Engy Mohsen”, Turntables directory, artlink, CH.

︎︎︎ 2022 - “Artist Spotlight with Engy Mohsen”, Interview by ArteEast.
︎︎︎ 2022 - “Notes on Collaboration”, Interview by Medrar TV, EG.
︎︎︎ 2022 - “A Game is a Great Excuse”, Interview by C. Neugebauer & N. Unfer.
︎︎︎ 2021 - “How To Love Many In Many Ways”, Fabrikzeitung, CH.
︎︎︎ 2020 - “AfA Open Studios Week 6”, In conversation with Georgia Kotretsos.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Systems of Subtleties by Ash Moniz, Mada Masr, EG.
︎︎︎ 2019 - “Roznama 6 Studio Program”, Public Discussions, MedrarTV, EG.
︎︎︎ 2018 - Art Alert: Performance Art at Roznama Studio, Ahram Online, EG.

Homepage: Ebrahim Bahaa El-Din (2022)


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