Formed by Dialogue returns to the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir for its second edition, bringing together 17 international artists and designers, with women taking a leading role. 

Set within the museum’s historic galleries, the exhibition presents contemporary works inspired by ancient Egyptian symbols, objects and materials, bringing ancient Egyptian heritage into contemporary design.

Among the participating creatives are a number of women whose practices span jewellery, furniture, sculpture, lighting and contemporary art. Bringing together different cultural backgrounds and creative disciplines, their works offer a closer look at how ancient Egyptian heritage continues to inspire artists and designers today. 

Formed by Dialogue is open to the public until 14 November 2026 at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir.

Johanna Van Parijs

Costa Rican designer Johanna Van Parijs draws inspiration from the goddess Nut, whose place in ancient Egyptian mythology represents the sky and the passage between worlds. Her contributions include Nut’s Gate, a totem panel, and The Conversation Chair, both exploring the symbolism of the goddess through contemporary design.

Lisa Lesunja

Swiss goldsmith Lisa Lesunja looks to one of ancient Egypt’s most recognisable symbols for Khepri – The Scarab Collection. Crafted in gold-plated silver and adorned with rubies, turquoise and sapphires, the jewellery pieces revisit the scarab’s associations with transformation, protection and rebirth.

Lina Al Orabi

Through her Cairo-based design studio Don Tanani, Lina Al Orabi explores the exceptional craftsmanship found in the city’s historic workshops and alleyways. Her contribution, the Vivacious Ouroboros bench, is crafted in oak with oxidised blue inlay, recalling the ancient Egyptian practice of decorating wooden objects with precious stones.

Jiang Qiong Er

Internationally acclaimed Chinese artist and designer Jiang Qiong Er brings another cultural perspective to the exhibition. Co-founder of Shang Xia with Hermès, she presents a bamboo marquetry screen and a chair inspired by the classic Ming Dynasty armchair, connecting Chinese craft traditions with the exhibition’s wider exploration of cultural heritage.

Amira Awad

Cairo-based designer and artist Amira Awad explores the natural grain of wood as a form of calligraphy while championing traditional craftsmanship. For Formed by Dialogue, she presents The Unlucky Fisherman, a bar cabinet inspired by an ancient Egyptian lock and sliding bolt, incorporating references to the waves of the Nile and an inlaid fish.

Sybil Layous

Creating for House of Today, Sybil Layous presents The Breath of Aset, a hand-built ceramic vessel inspired by Aset, also known as Isis. Featuring distinctive winged handles, the work draws on the goddess’s symbolism while reinterpreting the ancient vessel as an object connected to ritual, memory and artistic expression.

May El Tabbakh

Alexandria-based architect and heritage specialist May El Tabbakh turns to the ancient Egyptian lotus for inspiration. Her contribution, The Light of the Lotus, takes its form from the flower’s closed bud, translating one of Egypt’s most enduring natural symbols into a contemporary lighting piece.

Alana Burns

Based in Mexico City, multidisciplinary artist Alana Burns explores the relationship between material, time and memory. For Formed by Dialogue, she presents forms crafted from tumbaga and shells, drawing inspiration from archaeological objects, ancient tools, vessels and adornments. Her work explores the space between function and memory, bringing historical references into a contemporary design context.