The Rise of the Arab Art

Contemporary art from the Arab World

Since the 1990s, contemporary art in the Arab world has experienced exponential growth and numerous changes. With the appearance of artists from the region in international exhibitions, the dynamics within the art scenes changed significantly. Museums & art foundations began to collect, biennials were launched, contemporary art galleries, fairs, residencies and schools emerged in many countries, and the governments of the Gulf states launched megaprojects. This reader serves as a guide for anyone interested in the foundations, structures and growth of these art scenes. It also functions as an anthology of what is now considered established in the Arab world, with contributions covering all aspects of the subject—both from across the region and from a Western perspective.

Texts by: Richard Armstrong, Tarek Abou El Fetouh, Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Bilal Akkouche, Zeina Arida, Kader Attia, Dana Awartani, Negar Azimi, Sam Bardaouil, Yto Barrada, Myriam Ben Salah, Antonia Carver, Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, Mai Eldib, Reem Fadda, Ben Floyd, Massimiliano Gioni, Valerie L. Hillings, Abdellah Karroum, Alexandre Kazerouni, Ali Khadra, Mona Khazindar, Anneka Lenssen, Sophie Makariou, Silvia Naef, Jean-Marc Prevost, Jim Quilty, Khalil Rabah, Yasmine El Rashidi, Sarah Rogers, Kareem Sakka, Alia Al-Senussi, Nada Shabout, Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Christine Thomé.

Artists include: Rabih Mroué, Abdullah Al-Mutairi, Hoor Al Qasimi, Walid Raad, Wael Shawky, Suha Shoman, Farida Sultan, Rayyane Tabet, Akram Zaatari.