Biography

Loving art from an early age, Refaat Zakhary spent a great deal of his free time as a teenager drawing and painting. When the time came for college, it was clear to him that architectural school was the right choice. While attending the Cairo Faculty of Fine Arts (Architectural division), Refaat studied sculpture and art history, alongside the landscape of historic to post-modern architecture. During that period, he delved into the masters of the renaissance and modern art eras. After obtaining his degree in 1965, he spent 15 years working with European firms that specialized in hotel design – both interior and exterior. In 1980, and for the following 25 years, Refaat joined a prominent architectural and interior design firm in New York City where he rose to the position of partner. Now retired, he lives in Nashville spending his time doing what he loves to do most: creating art.