Christie’s Middle East has announced its upcoming auction of modern and contemporary Middle Eastern art, set to take place online from 1st-6th May 2023. The collection features a diverse range of mediums, including painting, sculpture, and photography, with a total of 63 works from the period spanning 1963 to 2021.
One of the most stand out pieces set to be auctioned is the highly coveted piece by Moroccan artist Mohammed Melehi, titled “Wilde,” and was created in 1963. Estimated to sell for between $100,000 to $150,000, this work comes from the private collection of Toni Maraini and was exhibited at the prestigious Galleria Trastevere in the same year it was created. It was also recently showcased at London’s New Waves exhibition at The Mosaic Rooms in 2019, making it an exceptional addition to any art enthusiast’s collection.
This online sale is not only a platform to showcase the works of renowned artists but also provides a unique opportunity to explore the rich and varied artistic production from across the Middle East and North Africa. With artists hailing from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and Turkey, the Christie’s auction offers a diverse range of contemporary and modern works.
Some of the contemporary artists included in the sale are Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim, Ali Banisadr, Hassan Hajjaj, Reem Al-Faisal, Thameur Mejri, and Jawhara al Saud. Their works will be presented alongside masterpieces such as Etel Adnan’s “Khat wa Rasm” (Line and Hand Drawing) from 1986, Dia Azzawi’s “Gilgamesh Epic no 4” from 1966, and Shaker Hassan Al Said’s “Kitabat a'la jidar raqam” from 1978.
Moreover, the auction will feature an impressive collection of works by female artists, both modern and contemporary. Among the leading modern female artists are Samia Halaby, Helen Khal, Etel Adnan, Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, Huguette Caland, and Behjat Sadr. The contemporary female artists include Hayv Kahraman, Tala Madani, Nadia Kaabi-Linke, Dana Awartani, and Shirin Neshat, whose works comprise a third of the total works on offer in the auction.
Christie’s Middle East continues to uphold its tradition of providing a platform for exceptional works of art from the region. The upcoming auction is yet another testament to the rich artistic heritage of the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the diversity and talent of contemporary artists working in the region today.
