Samir Rafi

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Samir Rafi was a renowned Egyptian Modernist painter, sculptor, educator, and author, whose distinctive style was deeply influenced by the mysticism, superstition, and magical rituals of Ancient Egyptian culture. Born into a prominent family, Rafi began his artistic training in 1942 under Hussein Youssef Amin before attending the School of Fine Arts in Cairo, where he rejected the prevailing Westernised pedagogy in favour of a more indigenous approach. In 1946, he co-founded the Contemporary Art Group (Jama’at al-Fann al-Mu’asir), alongside other pioneering artists, advocating for a modern Egyptian art that was rooted in local life, folklore, and anti-colonial ideals. Rafi's academic pursuits continued at Ain Shams University before he relocated to Paris on a government scholarship, obtaining a Ph.D. in Art History from La Sorbonne. His career also included a politically charged period in Algeria, where he served as a technical advisor in fine arts for the Ministry of National Education. Ultimately, Rafi settled in France, where he spent the remainder of his life, leaving behind a legacy defined by his unique blend of Egyptian heritage and modernist sensibilities.