First forays for Saudi art in international art market

SAUDI ART MARKET

A group of Saudi artists will appear for the first time at international auction at Christies April sale in Dubai. This follows the inaugural entry of Saudi Arabia to Art Dubai fair last month.

Lulwah Al Homoud

Christies:

Christie’s will be offering a selection of works by Saudi Arabian artists in their sale of International Modern and Contemporary Art that will be held on April 29 in Dubai.

This is the first time that a group of work from Saudi Arabia has been included in their international auction.

The sale will include works by six contemporary artists including Ahmed Mater Al Ziad Aseeri and Lulwah Al Homoud, reflecting the vibrancy of the Kingdom’s young artistic talent.

Michael Jeha, Managing Director of Christie’s Middle East said: We have noticed a significant increase in the number of buyers at our sales from the Middle East with 75 per cent of the Dubai art sale buyers last year from the region, up from an average of 50 per cent in previous years. With the introduction of this group of Saudi Arabian lots we are hoping to continue this trend and further extend the reach of the sales to collectors throughout the region.”

Emirates Business 24/7

Ahmed Mater

Art Dubai

Speaking at a packed press conference full of foreign journalists, Co-Founder and Director of Art Dubai John Martin said “Among the 26 participating countries, Saudi Arabia has entered the show for the first time with a gallery display of Saudi-based artists,” he added.

Noha Al Sharif

The Jeddah-based Athr Gallery, which recently featured in the “Edge of Saudi Arabia” show in London, will present works by artists such as Shadia Alem, Lulwah Al-Homoud, Baseim Al-Shargi, Noha Al-Sharif, Abdullah Hammas, Ahmed Mater, Bakur Sheikhoon and Ayman Yusri.

Arab News