Born in 1916 in Minya, Abdel Hay came from a poor background and
initially worked as a cook. His artistic journey began when he worked for
Hoda Sharawi, who introduced him to the art community. Abdel Hay
won
first prizes in the Mokhtar Sculpture Competition in 1944, 1945, and 1948,
and later pursued studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts and the Studio of
Fine Arts in Luxor. A master sculptor, he specialized in creating powerful,
lifelike figures using hard materials such as granite, basalt, and quartz.
He exhibited his work both in Egypt and internationally, earning
numerous
accolades, including the State Prize of Support (1972) and the Order of
Sciences and Arts (1982).