Egyptian artist Chant Avedissian passes away at age 67

Overlapping Ottoman, Bedouin, and Islamic motifs with cultural, political figures from Egypt’s Golden Age: From Om Kolthoum to Farid Al Atrash to Gamal Abdel Nasser, Egyptian-Armenian artist Chant Avedissian produced many iconic pieces that brought together pop culture with Egyptian folk culture. The artist, who passed away late last month at the age of 67 after a years-long struggle with cancer, was educated in Montreal and Paris before working for the Aga Khan Foundation with exemplary Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy, who is said to have inspired Avedissian’s lasting interest in traditional art and local materials.