Mahmoud Moussa’s sculpted forms return to Arab modernism’s birthplace
The pioneering Egyptian sculptor's first solo exhibition in the UAE opens at Region Concept Space, bringing together decades of work that shaped Arab modernism. Born in Alexandria and trained independently in Egypt, Moussa's elegant abstractions in bronze and stone explore the human form with restrained intensity.
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Maha Al Mansoori Art Gallery presents Sculpture, Form & Memory, the first solo exhibition in the United Arab Emirates devoted to Mahmoud Moussa, one of the defining figures in the development of modern Arab sculpture. The works on display span a lifetime of rigorous formal enquiry, each piece a meditation on the human figure distilled to its essential geometry.
Born in Alexandria in 1913, Moussa emerged from the second generation of modernist pioneers. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he pursued his artistic training independently within Egypt rather than in Europe, an unconventional path that shaped his distinctive visual language. His sculptures balance the classical vocabulary of form with a quiet abstraction, rendered in materials ranging from bronze to stone, their surfaces speaking to both the dignity of figuration and the purity of abstraction.
Moussa’s influence extended beyond his own practice. As a teacher, he cultivated subsequent generations of Arab artists, cementing his position as both maker and mentor to the modernist project. The exhibition at Region Concept Space brings together carefully selected works that chart his investigation of volume, proportion and the psychological presence of the sculpted form. Each piece reflects a commitment to craft that defines the most enduring sculpture.
The exhibition runs from 11 to 15 November 2026 at Region Concept Space, MiZa, Zayed Port, Abu Dhabi. Entry is free, with extended hours from 10am to 10pm daily.
Imagery courtesy of Maha Al Mansoori Art Gallery.
