Amir Youssef
Artist and filmmaker from Egypt, currently living and working between Paris and Alexandria. He earned a bachelor's degree in painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Alexandria in 2015, where he also served as a Teaching Assistant. His experience at the university deepened his commitment to addressing social inequalities in access to educational and cultural resources in Alexandria, a focus that has significantly influenced his approach to both art and pedagogy. He later completed a master’s degree (DNSEP) at the Ecole d'art d'Aix-en-Provence in France, followed by a diplome at Le Fresnoy – Studio national des arts contemporains.
Amir challenges the stillness of colonial history as it is traditionally displayed in museum vitrines. His work unfolds along two main paths: one examines the absurdity of war and the historical narratives shaped by post-colonialism; the other engages with religious themes, reimagining sacred texts as poetic and transcendent experiences.
His research is rooted in the study of early visual culture and media history, focusing on how movement and narrative evolve across different formats such as sculpture, installation, film, and video. A long-standing interest in transforming the function and significance of objects continues to guide his creative process. This ongoing inquiry has developed into a body of work he refers to as Kinemania, a personal term used to explore society’s deep fascination with visual motion. Through this lens, he creates kinetic, mobile objects that embody his investigations into movement, media, and interpretation.
He has exhibited his works in recent exhibitions and screenings: His latest film Apoleon premiered at Visions du Réel ( Switzerland ), Ars Electronica (Linz); Fondation Vasarely (Aix-en-Provence); Le Fresnoy – Studio National (Tourcoing); BJCM Biennale (Milan); Textile Industry Museum (Augsburg); Youth Salon, Cairo Opera House (Cairo); Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Alexandria).
Awards
Prix Emergences, 2024, La Scam, Apoleon, France
Art Studio Collector prize, 2024, Jean Philippe Vernes, EMAN, film, France
Bader
best
short, 2024, Apoleon, film, Doha Film Insitut, Quatar
Group Exhibitions
هِسْسْ, Whispers of the Storm, Cité international des arts, Curated by Maria Ines, 2025, France
Union Libre, Memento art Space, Auch, 2024, France
Panorama 26, Le Fresnoy, 2024 curtated by Marta gili rosique, France
Panorama 25, Le Fresnoy, 2023 curtated by Chris Dercon, France
Désorientation, Vasarely Foundation, Aix-En-Provence,2023, curated by Michel Gaultier, France
Sciences Po, Aix-En-Provence, 2022, France
La Nuit des Musées, Video mapping, pavillion vendome Aix-En-Provence, 2021, France
Lab30 Festival, Augsbourg, 2021, Germany
Arselectronica, Linz, 2020, Austria
Reimagined Narratives, Art d’Egypt, 2019, Cairo
voyage voyage, Aix-en-Provence Art School, 2018, France
Biennale Milano, 2016, Italy
Youth-Salon 1st, Eltarasina gallery, Alexandria, 2015, Egypt
Youth-Salon the 26th, Opera House, 2015, Egypt
Youth salon, Saad Zaghloul Museum, 2015, Egypt
Agenda Exhibition, Bibliotheca Alexandria, 2014, Egypt
Youth-Salon the 25th, curated by Khaled Hafez, Opera House, 2014, Egypt
MASS-Alexandria Exhibition 3, Alexandria, 2013, Egypt
MASS-Alexandria Exhibition 2, Alexandria, 2012, Egypt
Markaz Elebdaa, Alexandria, 2012, Egypt
Caricature, Goethe institute, Alexandria, 2012, Egypt
Agenda, bibliotheca Alexandria, 2012, Egypt
Atelier Alexandria, 2010, Egypt
Education
Le Fresnoy, Studio national des arts contemporains, 2022-2024
"DNSEP" ,Ecole supérieure d’art d’Aix-en-Provence, France, 2022.
Exchange Semseter - University of Art&Design Linz, Austria 2020.
"DNA" ,Ecole supérieure d’art d’Aix-en-Provence, France, 2019.
Bachelor of Painting, Facuty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University, 2015.
Residencies
104, Paris, France, 2025
In Situ, La Cité international des arts , France, 2024/2025
BJCEM biennale, Milano, Italy, June-July 2015
March Meeting , Sharjah art Foundation, March-April 2014
Documenta13, Artist assistant June –July, 2012
MASS-Alexandria, curated by Daniella Rose King, 2012/2014
هِسْسْ, Whispers of the Storm, Cité international des arts, Curated by Maria Ines, 2025, France
Union Libre, Memento art Space, Auch, 2024, France
Panorama 26, Le Fresnoy, 2024 curtated by Marta gili rosique, France
Panorama 25, Le Fresnoy, 2023 curtated by Chris Dercon, France
Désorientation, Vasarely Foundation, Aix-En-Provence,2023, curated by Michel Gaultier, France
Sciences Po, Aix-En-Provence, 2022, France
La Nuit des Musées, Video mapping, pavillion vendome Aix-En-Provence, 2021, France
Lab30 Festival, Augsbourg, 2021, Germany
Arselectronica, Linz, 2020, Austria
Reimagined Narratives, Art d’Egypt, 2019, Cairo
voyage voyage, Aix-en-Provence Art School, 2018, France
Biennale Milano, 2016, Italy
Youth-Salon 1st, Eltarasina gallery, Alexandria, 2015, Egypt
Youth-Salon the 26th, Opera House, 2015, Egypt
Youth salon, Saad Zaghloul Museum, 2015, Egypt
Agenda Exhibition, Bibliotheca Alexandria, 2014, Egypt
Youth-Salon the 25th, curated by Khaled Hafez, Opera House, 2014, Egypt
MASS-Alexandria Exhibition 3, Alexandria, 2013, Egypt
MASS-Alexandria Exhibition 2, Alexandria, 2012, Egypt
Markaz Elebdaa, Alexandria, 2012, Egypt
Caricature, Goethe institute, Alexandria, 2012, Egypt
Agenda, bibliotheca Alexandria, 2012, Egypt
Atelier Alexandria, 2010, Egypt
Education
Le Fresnoy, Studio national des arts contemporains, 2022-2024
"DNSEP" ,Ecole supérieure d’art d’Aix-en-Provence, France, 2022.
Exchange Semseter - University of Art&Design Linz, Austria 2020.
"DNA" ,Ecole supérieure d’art d’Aix-en-Provence, France, 2019.
Bachelor of Painting, Facuty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University, 2015.
Residencies
104, Paris, France, 2025
In Situ, La Cité international des arts , France, 2024/2025
BJCEM biennale, Milano, Italy, June-July 2015
March Meeting , Sharjah art Foundation, March-April 2014
Documenta13, Artist assistant June –July, 2012
MASS-Alexandria, curated by Daniella Rose King, 2012/2014