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Welcome to MENA Art

Exclusive access to galleries and artists across the region etc.

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Welcome.

Art investment in the MENA region is evolving rapidly, blending cultural insight with strong market growth.

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ADAI champions artists from across the Middle East and North Africa

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ADAI works with artists across the Middle East and North Africa to ensure their work is seen, understood, and contextualized. Representation on ADAI means supporting artists through curated visibility, research, and digital presentation, connecting their work to audiences, exhibitions, and broader cultural conversations.

Artists featured on ADAI are not exclusively signed or commercially represented— instead, ADAI provides a platform to showcase your practice, highlight your perspective, and situate your work within the evolving landscape of MENA art.

By representing your work on ADAI, you gain access to:

  • Curated profiles that highlight your artistic journey
  • Opportunities for exposure in exhibitions, publications, and online showcases
  • Connection to audiences, researchers, and institutions interested in MENA art

Representation is about visibility, context, and community - helping your art reach the right audiences while respecting your autonomy as an artist."

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Beautiful. Curiosity is
where collecting begins.
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Which era are you most curious about?

Ancient
ANCIENT & ISLAMIC
FOUNDATIONS
Modern Art
MODERN ART &
POST-COLONIAL
MOVEMENTS
(1950S-80S)
Contemporary Voices
CONTEMPORARY
VOICES (1990S-
TODAY)
A Full Journey
A FULL JOURNEY
(PAST → PRESENT)
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What aspect of MENA art
should we focus on?

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Founders of Arab Modernism (1920–1940)

Often referred to as the era of Al-Ruwad (The Pioneers), this period marks the birth of modern Arab art. Many of these artists were sent on government-sponsored scholarships to study in European capitals like Paris and Rome. Upon returning home, they blended Western academic techniques (such as Impressionism and Realism) with local subjects, landscapes, and the emerging concept of national identity.

Top Artists:

  • Artwork Patterns
    Mahmoud Sa'id (Egypt)
  • Artwork Patterns
    Moustafa Farroukh (Lebanon)
  • Artwork Patterns
    Mohammed Naghi (Egypt)
  • Artwork Patterns
    Habib Srour (Lebanon)
  • Artwork Patterns
    Mahmoud Mokhtar (Egypt - pioneer of modern Egyptian sculpture)
  • Artwork Patterns
    Omar Onsi (Lebanon)
Artwork Patterns Artwork Patterns
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National Movements & Abstract Innovation (1950–1970)

Following World War II, as Arab nations gained independence from colonial powers, artists sought to break away from European academicism to forge distinctly localized modernisms. This era saw the formation of major artist collectives, such as the Baghdad Group for Modern Art and the Contemporary Art Group in Cairo. Pan-Arabism, decolonization, and the revival of ancient heritage (like Pharaonic or Mesopotamian motifs) were massive drivers of this era.

Top Artists:

  • Artwork Patterns
    Jewad Selim (Iraq)
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    Faik Hassan (Iraq)
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    Hamed Ewais (Egypt)
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    Saloua Raouda Choucair (Lebanon)
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Figurative Expression & Political Engagement (1960–1980)

This period was heavily defined by regional political turmoil, most notably the 1967 Six-Day War (the Naksa or 'setback'), the Palestinian exodus, and the Lebanese Civil War. Art became a crucial tool for resistance, political commentary, and documenting human suffering. Existential angst and national trauma led to an emotionally charged, often somber, figurative expressionism.

Top Artists:

  • Artwork Patterns
    Ismail Shammout (Palestine)
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    Leila Nasir (Syria)
  • Artwork Patterns
    Sliman Mansour (Palestine)
  • Artwork Patterns
    Samia Halaby (Palestine)
  • Artwork Patterns
    Dia Azzawi (Iraq)
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Hurufiyya & Abstraction with Cultural Identity (1960–1990)

The Hurufiyya (Letterism) movement is arguably the most significant and cohesive modernist movement to emerge from the Arab world. Artists deconstructed Arabic calligraphy, liberating the letters from their linguistic and religious functions to use them as purely abstract, rhythmic, and visual elements. This allowed them to engage with global abstract expressionism while remaining deeply rooted in Islamic and Arab heritage.

Top Artists:

  • Artwork Patterns
    Shakir Hassan Al Said (Iraq)
  • Artwork Patterns
    Kamal Boullata (Palestine)
  • Artwork Patterns
    Madiha Umar (Iraq/Syria - widely considered a pioneer who started exploring this in the 1940s)
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    Ibrahim El-Salahi (Sudan)
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Contemporary & Transnational Voices (1990–2020)

Driven by globalization, the diaspora experience, and new technologies, Arab art in this era expanded well beyond traditional painting and sculpture. It became heavily characterized by video, photography, installation, and performance art. Operating on a global stage, these artists tackle complex themes of post-colonialism, migration, memory, borders, and gender identity.

Top Artists:

  • Artwork Patterns
    Mona Hatoum (Palestine/UK)
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    Yto Barrada (Morocco/France)
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    Wael Shawky (Egypt)
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    Akram Zaatari (Lebanon)
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WORKS ON
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WORKS ON
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SCULPTURE
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PRINTS AND
EDITIONS
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PHOTOGRAPHY
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ABSTRACT
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TRADITIONAL
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CONTEMPORARY
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Shahla Moghaddam

Iranian, 1973

Shahla was born and raised in Tehran, Iran, and she graduated from The Culture and Literature School of Tehran. Throughout her solo career, Shahla has had nine solo exhibitions and more than 32 group exhibitions throughout the world. She has earned many awards and accolades in her profession. In the...

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Artworks

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7 Artworks:

Artwork Image

Shahla Moghaddam

Candid, 2023

Price on Request

Contemporary

Painting

Artwork Image

Shahla Moghaddam

Peace, 2023

Price on Request

Contemporary

Painting

Artwork Image

Shahla Moghaddam

Innocent, 2023

Price on Request

Contemporary

Painting

Artwork Image

Shahla Moghaddam

Royal Velvet, 2023

Price on Request

Contemporary

Painting

Artwork Image

Shahla Moghaddam

Warm Composition, 2023

Price on Request

Contemporary

Painting

Artwork Image

Shahla Moghaddam

Trumpeteer, 2023

Price on Request

Contemporary

Painting

Artwork Image

Shahla Moghaddam

Along, 2023

Price on Request

Contemporary

Painting