You're invited to the exhibition launch of Brushstrokes of Arab Cinema: A Century Unveiled showcasing the lost art of painted Arab film posters, offering a rare glimpse into the visual and cultural legacy of Arab cinema across the 20th century.
Visitors will journey through six decades of Arab cinema, witnessing the transformation of poster artistry—from the hand-painted lithographs of the 1930s to the striking collages of the 1990s. They will encounter some of the biggest names in Arab film history, including Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Umm Kulthum, Farid al-Atrash, Abdel Halim Hafez, Fairuz, and Sabah.
This exhibition is curated by Kalid Hosni—a designer, cinephile, and film poster collector. Born into a family that emigrated from Lebanon to Australia during the 1975 Lebanese Civil War, Kalid grew up in Melbourne—immersed in the vibrant stories, music, and culture of Arab cinema. Over 15 years, he has meticulously collected painted posters from Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria, spanning the 1930s to the 1990s, with 40 carefully selected for this exhibition.