About this Event
Brandywine Workshop and Archives (BWA) is delighted to present a special ArtistNConversation featuring 2025 El Anatsui Africa-based fellow Islam Aly in dialogue with Dr. Heather Hughes, the Kathy and Ted Fernberger Associate Curator of Prints at the Philadelphia Art Museum. This program brings together a groundbreaking contemporary artist and a leading curator for a discussion that bridges continents, centuries, and the very definition of the fine art prints and book arts.
Our distinguished guest, Islam Aly, is an Egyptian book artist, designer, and educator whose work masterfully intertwines historical craft with digital innovation. With a PhD in Art Education from the University of Iowa, where he also earned an MFA in Book Arts, Aly’s practice is a deep exploration of cultural narrative and materiality. He meticulously integrates traditional bookbinding techniques with modern technology, creating sculptural books that are not merely read but experienced. As a lecturer at Helwan University in Cairo, his artistic research investigates the evolving dialogue between past and present, pushing the boundaries of the book as a dynamic artistic medium. His fellowship at BWA marks a significant moment for transatlantic artistic exchange.
He will be joined by Dr. Heather Hughes, a curator whose expertise spans from Renaissance prints to contemporary global practices. In her role at the Philadelphia Art Museum, Dr. Hughes has organized recent exhibitions on artists from Renaissance engraver Diana Scultori to modernist printmaker Krishna Reddy. Significantly, together with Dr. Chika Okeke-Agulu (Princeton University), she is co-organizing a major forthcoming exhibition on the printmaking practice of Ghanaian artist El Anatsui, placing her at the forefront of scholarship on African artistic contributions to the field. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania with a specialization in
early modern Northern European prints.
This conversation promises to be a fascinating exploration of artistic process, cultural heritage, and the future of printmaking. They will discuss Aly’s innovative work during his BWA residency, the curatorial process behind bringing global stories to audiences, and the powerful connections between artistic traditions.
We invite you to join us for an evening of insightful dialogue that celebrates artistic innovation and international collaboration.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
730 S Broad St, 730 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, United States
USD 0.00
