The art space in the GCC is up and coming like never before. Gone are the days of art being undervalued.
The region is experiencing an exciting creative boom, with a new wave of artists redefining what art can be. From bold abstract works to contemporary installations, artists across the Gulf are creating art that reflects the region’s identity, culture, and its place in the wider world.
The art coming out of the GCC is innovative and thought-provoking – an exploration of social, cultural, and political themes.
And we’ve explored the art space to find artists you need to follow.
TOUILS
Using an impressionist style of painting, Touils creates paintings that tell stories of culture. He’s slightly obsessed with Arab and Japanese culture, and we’re slightly obsessed with his paintings.
Ismail Abdul Rahman
Ismail is a contemporary calligraphy artist whose work blends the tradition of Arabic calligraphy with more modern artistic expression. His style transforms calligraphy from a form of writing into a dynamic visual art. Might purchase a piece, or five.
Abdal Karaim
A contemporary Saudi artist who only uses the colour blue in his paintings. Talk about creating a niche, right? He claims that “his artistic journey is deeply rooted in a fusion of identifiable archetypal imagery”. He creates everything from portraits to abstract expressions. Who knew blue could look so good?
Damzon
Not what first comes to mind when someone says artist, but if this isn’t art, I don’t know what is. Damzon is a clay artist who creates mostly realistic sculptures, but sometimes, beautiful hyper-realistic portraits.
Rand Abdul Jabbar
Rand Abdul Jabbar is an artist who brings history to life in a way that feels both personal and universal. Through her work—whether in sculpture, video, or writing, she explores themes of memory, identity, and the legacies of imperialism, archaeology, and mythology. You can find her exhibition in Lawrie Shabibi on Al Serkal Avenue till December 6.
Basmah Alhuamidan
Basmah is a Saudi-based artist who creates hyper-realistic portraits. She captures stunning details that make her subjects look almost lifelike. Whether it’s the way the light hits the skin or the subtle emotions in a person’s expression, she has a knack for bringing out the essence of her subjects in a way that feels both intimate and striking. This one was a bit too realistic for me!
Melika
An Iranian artist based in Dubai, whose body of work includes drawings, paintings, sculptures, photography, video, and animation. Her work takes inspiration from her Persian background and upbringing, with her latest work being a self-portrait inspired by Persian poetry.
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