Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi is the founder of Barjeel Art Foundation, an ivy league university professor, and the owner of one of the biggest art collections in the Arab world. From his upbringing, to his evolving relationship with his parents, and the eventual passing of his father, Sultan’s story unfolds before us. Discover how this former engineering major transformed him into a prominent figure in the art world, offering valuable insights into the world of art and sharing his unique perspectives on life. Read more »
Arts & Culture
Kawkaba: Highlights from the Barjeel Art Foundation | Sultan Al-Qassemi & Dr Ridha Mourn
What was it like curating the biggest exhibition of Arab art happening right now? Why is “Kawkaba: Highlights from the Barjeel Art Foundation” such a landmark exhibition? Afikra sat down with the exhibition’s curator and deputy chair of Christie’s MENA, Dr Ridha Moumni, and Barjeel Art Foundation founder Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi to go behind the scenes of the curation process. Read more »
Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi of the Barjeel Art Foundation: ‘My aim is to have Arab art taught on a par with other art histories’
As Christie’s hosts London’s largest exhibition of modern and contemporary Arab art, we speak to the founder of the UAE-based Barjeel Art Foundation, whose unique collection is finding new audiences for Middle Eastern artists past and present. Read more »
Christie’s to Host the Largest Exhibition of Arab Art in London
Christie’s is honoured to present the largest exhibition of Arab Art in London to date, at Christie’s Headquarters in London this summer. Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World will bring together works of art across mediums in an exhibition which collectively celebrates the creativity, diversity and history of Arab Art, situated within two distinct sections, Kawkaba: Highlights from the Barjeel Art Foundation, and Emirati Art Reimagined: Hassan Sharif and the Contemporary Voices. This will be the first time that such an extensive exhibition of Arab art will have been on view in London via a unique partnership with the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth and the Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah, UAE. Read more »
Marwan exhibition in Berlin highlights legacy of late Syrian artist
A new exhibition in Berlin brings Marwan’s work back to the city that was at once his home and the crucible of his ghurba. The exhibition is titled The Jewels of My Career. It is organised by the Barjeel Art Foundation and is running at art auction house Lempertz until June 30, 2023. Read more »
Talking about Modern Middle Eastern Art
The King’s Academy community got a tantalizing taste of the fascinating, but often overlooked, world of contemporary Middle Eastern art during a visit by the authority on the subject, Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi. Read more »