Polish artist Izabela Uchman, who has made Egypt her home since 2010, reflects on her three-decade artistic journey in her latest exhibition, “Wandering Through the Lands of Wonders" currently on view at Odyssey Gallery in Zamalek. The show marks 30 years since her first visit to Cairo in 1995 — a city that would later become her permanent home.
“This exhibition is particularly special to me as it marks 30 years since my first encounter with Cairo,” Uchman says. “At that time, I was a student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, where I graduated from the Department of Restoration and Painting. That trip was the beginning of my artistic journey.”
Her latest body of work traces her creative path from Warsaw to the Middle East, capturing a lifelong fascination with the region’s landscapes, stories, and people.
“Since childhood, I was enchanted by tales from the East — stories like One Thousand and One Nights, the domes of Cairo, and the palm trees of Baghdad,” she recalls. “Growing up surrounded by Poland’s vast green forests, I dreamed of life in the Middle East.”
That dream eventually became reality. Uchman’s career took her across Lebanon, Syria, and the Gulf, but it was Egypt that captured her heart.
“Egypt is where I chose to live and settle,” she explains. “My studio in Heliopolis is my creative sanctuary. I work closely with Egyptian artists on various projects — collaboration is an essential part of my professional and personal life.”
Before fully dedicating herself to painting, Uchman built an accomplished career in art restoration, contributing to the preservation of Egypt’s ancient heritage.
“My first restoration project was at the Temple of Hatshepsut in 1999,” she says. “That experience shaped my understanding of Egyptian civilization and deepened my connection to its artistic legacy.”
Her life and art, she notes, are a dialogue between cultures — a reflection of coexistence and mutual respect.
“Although I’m a foreigner from Poland, I have embraced life in Egypt — this is what coexistence truly means,” Uchman reflects. “One of my paintings, Coexistence, expresses my life with my Egyptian husband, who comes from a different religion. Together, we have twins. That harmony between cultures is at the heart of my work.”
For Uchman, Egypt’s civilization, history, and people remain an endless source of inspiration.
“I am deeply grateful for everything this country has given me,” she says. “Egypt’s spirit continues to guide my art, and I will always strive to honor it in my paintings.”
Follow the latest news on Google News
