Moataz Nasr at Leila Heller Gallery

Egyptian artist Moataz Nasr’s New York solo debut at Leila Heller Gallery features work in a variety of media including neon, glass and video, but a row of 25 ceramic figures of everyday Cairenes titled ‘The People,’ stands out. Chief among these is a version of the female protester who was notoriously brutalized by Egyptian soldiers during 2011 demonstrations in Tahrir Square; rendered with the slightly curving forms of a Hummel figurine, the sculpture manages to disturb as much as the original video footage. (Through Dec 23rd).

Moataz Nasr, Elshaab (the people), 25 ceramic characters (detail seen here), 10.6 x 2.4 x 4 in each (approx.), 2012.

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Merrily Kerr

Merrily Kerr is an art critic and writer based in New York. For more than 20 years, Merrily has published in international art magazines including Time Out New York, Art on Paper, Flash Art, Art Asia Pacific, Art Review, and Tema Celeste in addition to writing catalogue essays and guest lecturing. Merrily teaches art appreciation at Marymount Manhattan College and has taught for Cooper Union Continuing Education. For more than a decade Merrily has crafted personalized tours of cultural discovery in New York's galleries and museums for individuals and groups, including corporate tours, collectors, artists, advertising agencies, and student groups from Texas Woman's University, Parsons School of Design, Chicago's Moody Institute, Cooper Union Continuing Education, Hunter College Continuing Education and other institutions. Merrily's tours have been featured in The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, Sydney Morning Herald and Philadelphia Magazine. Merrily is licensed by New York City's Department of Consumer Affairs as a tour guide and is a member of the International Association of Art Critics (AICA USA)