britt boutros-ghali
Contemporary Art | Design | Licensing | Artsy
TRAFFICARTS represents Britt Boutros-Ghali, the world-class artist following the tradition of the abstract expressionist giants, such as Helen Frankenthaler and Joan Mitchel, from the 1950s forward. We develop international exhibitions, gallery placement, book publishing, auction oversight, press, and art placement.
Britt, the celebrated Norwegian abstract expressionist artist, has spent the last five decades living and working in Egypt, where she is an integral part of the country's artistic community. Her art, characterized by vibrant colors and large-scale energetic paintings, draws inspiration from Egypt's rich and exotic culture. Employing "action painting.” Her work embodies a sense of spontaneity and creativity coming from within.
Britt divides her time between Cairo and Egypt's North Coast, some 20 km west of Alexandria, and has studios in both locations. Her home and atelier are a creative sanctuary infused with her intricate mosaics and murals inspired by the region. Local artists, collectors, and individuals with a penchant for the unique frequently gather at her home, while art enthusiasts from around the world journey to meet her and acquire her work.
Britt has been exhibited worldwide since her first exhibition in Paris in 1962 and is held in many public and private collections. In 1996, she received the prestigious St. Olav's Order, Norway's highest artistic honor, from King Harald for her cultural and creative contributions. In 2023, she accepted a lifetime achievement award from the Egyptian National Council for Women, a significant recognition in her adopted homeland.
Born in 1937 in Svolvaer, Norway, Britt is equally influenced by her childhood experiences, marked by the stark seasonal contrasts of light and darkness, harsh weather, and the backdrop of World War II.
Public Collections and Honors
Marwa Mansour Collection
Coca Cola Collection
Mercedes Benz Collection
Museum of Modern and Contemporary Arab Art - Doha, Qatar
Museum of Modern Art, Cairo, Egypt
Queen Noor, Museum of Modern Art, Aman, Jourdan
Museum of Modern Art, Cairo, Egypt
Norsk Hydro Collection
Church of Norway, Alta, Norway
Catholic Church of Bavaria, Germany
Kunst og Industrie Museum, Trondheim, Norway
Galerie Nord Norge Private Collection—Permanent Installation
Saltstrømmen Art Center- Permanent Installation
Hardanger and Voss Museum, Utne, Norway
Galeri Nord Norge, Harstad, Permanent Installation
Galeri Kvale Hammerfest, Permanent Installation
Kranes Galeri, Tromso, Permanent Installation
Galeri Vesterålen, Sortland, Norway—Permanent Installation
Paletten, Harstad, Norway—Permanent Installation
St. Olavs Order for Highest Achievements in the Arts, 1996 (Presented by King Harald of Norway)
Slovak Presidential Order for Art and Culture, 2010
Lifetime Achievement Award for Women in the Arts, Egyptian Government, 2023
“I always start by putting all my colors around me. Then I just let things happen. I really don’t have any idea of what I’m going to do. Everything to start feels a little chaotic and then I slowly make order from the chaos and give it structure. Sometimes I’m not even aware of what I’m doing.”
—Britt BG