Welcome to #BuroSpotlights, a platform dedicated to celebrating exceptional Middle Eastern talent.
At Buro247 Middle East, we are committed to showcasing and celebrating the extraordinary talent in the Arab world. With our column, #BuroSpotlights, we bring you stories of pioneering artists, innovative designers, tech trailblazers, cinematic visionaries, sports stars, and more.
This week, #BuroSpotlights Tunisian-French artist el Seed.
When you pass by one of eL Seed’s works, you might first notice the graceful swirls of vibrant letters dancing across a wall or sculpture. Then, the realization sets in: this art tells a deeper story. Here is a contemporary artist who uses his mastery of calligraphy and an urban aesthetic to create messages of unity, belonging, and cultural identity. Wherever he goes—from city streets to world-renowned museums—his creations spark connections between communities that might not otherwise come together.
eL Seed’s pieces are instantly recognizable but never predictable. There’s a synergy in his style that draws from centuries-old calligraphic traditions and then reworks them with a fresh, street-inspired twist. His letters and symbols aren’t mere decoration. They speak about harmony, freedom, and the shared experiences that bind people worldwide. It’s an approach that turned him into a sought-after figure in global art circles, with projects sprouting up on everything from the façade of the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris to the edges of the DMZ between North and South Korea.
A central focus of eL Seed’s practice lies in championing the voices of communities he meets along the way. He doesn’t simply drop into a place to spray paint a wall and leave; his process involves serious research and respect for local heritage. He exchanges ideas with writers, poets, and philosophers, weaving their insights into his artwork. This deep commitment to each locale has led to monumental efforts like “Perception” in Cairo’s garbage-collecting district, which garnered him an International Award for Public Art in 2019 and a nod as a Global Thinker by Foreign Policy in 2016.
It’s not surprising that major cultural institutions and museums worldwide have taken note. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Chrysler Museum, and the Collection des Musees de France are just a few homes to eL Seed’s creations. He has collaborated with the Hangar Bicocca Pirelli Foundation, and his installations have graced iconic venues such as the Petit Palais in Paris and the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. Each exhibition, each mural, and each sculpture reflects his ongoing search for shared human values.
Recognition has followed at every step of his career. He was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2021 and received the UNESCO Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture in 2017. Adding an extra stamp of prestige, his collaboration with Louis Vuitton on the “Foulard d’Artistes” collection confirmed eL Seed’s influence in the luxury fashion world. His role as a TED Fellow in 2015 gave him yet another platform to champion creative expression as a means of fostering social progress.
His story resonates strongly in a city like Dubai, where multiple cultures and creative disciplines intersect. eL Seed stands at the forefront of that fusion, showing us that in his hands, letters transform into large-scale sculptures, monumental murals, and refined works displayed in elite galleries, proving that art transcends borders when it stems from a place of authenticity and inclusivity.
For those curious about the powerful mix of heritage, artistry, and social consciousness, eL Seed offers a front-row seat to a movement where convention meets fresh thinking. His vision continues to ripple outward, inspiring people to look beyond differences and celebrate the bonds we share.
