Alserkal and Christie’s have partnered to bring an exhibition of work by the late Syrian artist Marwan Kassab Bachi to Dubai. The exhibition is set to take place at Concrete in Alserkal Avenue from 12 to 22 April 2026, coinciding with Alserkal Art Week and Art Dubai. The exhibition will also mark the twentieth anniversary of Christie’s first auction of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art in Dubai.
Marwan Kassab-Bachi’s work was recently the subject of Marwan: A Soul in Exile, a large-scale exhibition of the artist’s work at Christie’s in London earlier this year, the third in the auction house’s summer exhibition series focused on celebrating Arab art. The non-commercial exhibition series was initiated by Dr Ridha Moumni, chairman of the Middle East and Africa Department at Christie’s, and the exhibition’s curator.
The collaboration between Alserkal and Christie’s will showcase a reimagined version of Marwan: A Soul in Exile, with a further focus on Marwan not just as an artist, but as a teacher with an ability to create connections across cultures. While the exhibition at Christie’s in London re-emphasised the artist’s lasting impact on the art world and continued relevance, the new iteration will explore with renewed depth Marwan’s role in shaping the artistic scene in the Middle East. Through his work as an educator at the Summer Academy at Darat al Funun in Amman from 1999 to 2003, Marwan’s influence reached a new generation of artists from the region, many of whom continue to play pivotal roles in the evolution of the region’s art scene today.
Christie’s, as the first auction house to have had a permanent presence in the Middle East, has played a key role in linking global audiences to the region and advancing the discourse on Arab art, while Alserkal Avenue has been a crucial meeting point of art and culture in Dubai through its exhibition and studio spaces, as well as creative businesses, cementing the city’s place as hub for arts and culture not just in the UAE but globally.
Vilma Jurkute, Executive Director, Alserkal, says “Partnering with Christie’s, an organisation that has been part of Dubai’s story for two decades, feels both timely and deeply meaningful. At Alserkal, our work is rooted in supporting artists and institutions that shape contemporary culture pertinent to our region. Marwan’s exhibition continues an important conversation about the historic resonance of Arab art and its power to inspire and shape a new generation of artists.”
Dr Ridha Moumni, Chairman of Christie’s Middle East and Africa, says “Marwan: A Soul in Exile at Christie’s London this summer welcomed a diverse international audience, sparking thoughtful conversations around the central themes of Marwan’s work, including identity, exile and belonging. In Dubai, we look forward to reimagining his legacy for a new audience, honouring Marwan not only as a visionary artist, but also as a teacher and cultural bridge whose influence continues to shape generations of creatives. We are especially grateful to collaborate with Alserkal in bringing this tribute to life.”
