A Met Museum guard becomes a star

At times, Armia Khalil felt like he was whittling his life away. And really, what was he thinking? Immigrating here from Egypt with nothing but $400 in his pocket and a suitcase of sculpting tools. I was so naive. I didn't have any plan. Just got one-way ticket in my dreams. His dreams of becoming a professional sculptor. It didn't work out. So in 2012, Armia got a job as a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where he could at least be in the presence of masters. Never imagining that one day, his work would be here too. It's unbelievable. That was a really surreal moment for me. A couple years ago, Armia struck up a conversation with a visitor. At least he thought he was a visitor. Anyway, Armia happened to mention to this guy that he was an artist himself. From Egypt. When Armia mentioned that he was Egyptian, I asked him if I could see his work. At that point, I revealed my identity. Akili Tomasino is a curator in the Met's Department of Modern and Contemporary Art. In 2018, he launched a search for the very best examples of art inspired by ancient Egypt. You looked far and wide. You looked in other countries. Spent six years. And then you found a piece in your security guard. Yes, absolutely. How do you explain that? Divinely ordained encounter. Really? Yes. Several people have told me that they've come to the exhibition just to see your sculpture. Armia's sculpture, carved out of a single piece of ash wood over the course of five months, is part of a major exhibit on display for the next week here at the Met. Thank you so much. As a result, Can we get a photo with you? Of course. Armia is now a celebrity of sorts. The only security guard who guards his own work. Thank you. At least, for now. My pleasure. Nice to meet you. So you might lose him as a security guard. That is a risk. But might gain a new master.