Thank you for this piece on Eastern icons . . .  love that this exhibit is in the East Village too! It's very interesting how Fayez uses this palette of bright, soft colours. His nativity icon is quite a departure from the usual sombre presentation of black, brown, burgundy, and gold and the "writing" is more affectionate and positive. Same with the Christ Pantocrator. . . beautiful treatment on the Pantocrator. I looked up Coptic icons and think this may be part of their tradition and something that distinguishes them from the Byzantine and Russian traditions.