Bassam Freiha Art Foundation: On an artistic mission

In the UAE’s capital, where there has been a burst of new museums, galleries, art fairs and also biennials, is a new art foundation dedicated to fostering the growth of artistic talent across the Middle East region. The Bassam Freiha Art Foundation (BFAF), which opened earlier in March this year is the first private art foundation on Saadiyat Island, which is already home to several private art institutions, such as the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), founded in 1996 by Huda I. Alkhamis-Kanoo and also Manarat Al Saadiyat and the Louvre Abu Dhabi and upcoming Guggenheim and Zayed National Museum. Housed within a space encompassing 600 meters, it is also surrounded by a garden displaying sculptures by modern artists.

Originally planned as a private gallery for veteran Lebanese art patron Bassam Freiha’s home, the site in the Saadiyat Cultural District was chosen by His Highness Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE. With his guidance and support, BFAF plays a wider role in the development of the arts and culture scene on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, and the wider UAE.

“The foundation was established as a non-profit cultural institution to offer public access to private art collections and encourage the development of artistic talent across the region,” explained Dr Micheala Watrelot, Head Curator and Director of Exhibitions. “Through exhibitions, educational initiatives, and community-focused events, the Foundation aims to support artistic expression, celebrate cultural heritage, and inspire a lasting appreciation for the arts. The vision for BFAF is rooted in philanthropy and the founder's dedication to cultivating a space where art and education intertwine, providing a platform for the next generation of creatives to thrive.”

Freiha, who has collected around 50 Orientalist artworks and previously opened a gallery called Mathaf in London in 1976 to showcase some of them, chose Abu Dhabi due to the UAE capital’s deep commitment to arts and culture, exemplified by Saadiyat Island's cultural district.

“The Foundation’s location here is strategic—it allows us to connect with the UAE’s leading cultural institutions, while reaching an international audience drawn to this cultural hub,” added Watrelot. “Abu Dhabi’s vision of becoming a global arts destination aligns with our own, and we are honored to contribute to the city’s artistic landscape by bringing regional and international perspectives together.”

Watrelot further explains how the mission of BFAF is to bridge cultures and communities through art. “We believe that art should be accessible and serve as a medium for understanding and connection,” she says. “Our vision is to become an impactful cultural institution dedicated to philanthropy and the arts.”

The foundation is presently exhibition on the evolution of abstract art in the UAE over the past 20 years. Titled “Hour Eternal: Twenty Years of Emirati Abstraction,” and on view until February 16, 2025, the show explores how Emirati artists have used abstraction as an artistic language to investigate themes of tradition, time, and identity within a rapidly changing cultural landscape.

“While acknowledging the influence of Hassan Sharif and his contemporaries—the foundational ‘Five’ who introduced conceptual and abstract practices to the region—the exhibition also brings together a diverse array of artists, each offering a unique approach to abstraction,” explains Watrelot.

The show presents notable works by brothers Hassan and Hussein Sharif, whose minimalist and conceptual pieces, alongside those by Mohammad Ibrahim Al-Qassab, challenged the conventional artistic discourse of the times. Artists such as Abdul Qader Al Rais, Salma Al Marri, and Mona Al Khaja incorporate local landscapes, textures, and calligraphic elements to engage with themes of heritage and identity. At the same time works by Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, who represented the UAE at the Venice Biennale in 2022, produces works revealing organic abstract highlighly colorful forms that resonate intensely with natural environments.

Additionally, says Watrelot: “works by Abdulrahim Salem and Noor Al Suwaidi merge figuration with expressive abstraction to examine personal and social themes, whereas Dr. Najat Makki and Mohammed Kazem utilize color-field abstraction to create a meditative reflection on temporality and intangible elements such as rhythm and sound. Shaikha Al Mazrou, Khalid Al Banna, and Ebtisam Abdulaziz experiment with geometry and materials, pushing abstraction toward sculptural and spatial investigations.”

The exhibition was made possible with support from the Ministry of Culture of the United Arab Emirates, Barjeel Art Foundation, as well as artists, collectors, and galleries who generously loaned works for this exhibition.

The exhibition shows how these artists have jointly redefined the boundaries of abstract art in the UAE. In so doing, their works as seen through this pivotal exhibition present the UAE’s ever changing and growing vibrant cultural landscape and its ongoing dialogue with the global art scene while still preserving its heritage and unique culture.