Fantastic selection of art showcased in fundraising sale for Armenian refugeesMany of us will remember how we celebrated special occasions in 2020, with Covid-19 having curtailed so many of our plans, but Lara Arslanian’s birthday, which fell on October 7, in the second week of the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict, will stay in her mind for an...

All-encompassing themes that resonate with audiences and a love for literature are what inspire the artist Sacha Abou Khalil Moving from dentistry to art is quite a leap! Did you paint when still working in the health industry?I’ve always loved painting; I used to paint on Sundays to unwind and that’s now my only day off, which shows just...

Ahmad Minkara talks to Kamiar Maleki about how a combination of family wisdom and personal innovation paved the way for him to evolve from young collector to successful curator and art fair directorA cursory glance at the list of art collected by Kamiar Maleki and his parents over the decades reveals it to be as varied as, and perhaps reflective...

We’re keen to give people something to smile about - Ali Güreli, CI ChairmanGiven the gargantuan challenges that 2020 has thrown at the art world, it seems somewhat fitting that this year’s Contemporary Istanbul (CI) has chosen the importance of global connectivity as one of its three themes.Nowhere is this better exemplified than in the format...

Mazen El Rifai talks to ArtScoops about the decades-long lure of the Baalbeck skylines and the conflicts that lie at the heart of his artHow do you think your architectural background has contributed to your career as an artist?I began painting in parallel with my work an architect after finishing my studies, which may help to explain the way in...

The founder of Primo Piano LivinGallery and renowned artist, curator, collector and art advisor Dr Dores Sacquegna tells ArtScoops how she selects works for shows and juggles her roles, while also sharing her thoughts on operating in a pandemic and the part that Middle Eastern artists are playing in highlighting turbulent times Francesco Arena,...

During the global lockdown in March 2020, the Lebanese artist and publisher launched an initiative to unite Middle Eastern artists across the world through artRebecca Anne Proctor Making of the Sketchbooks of The Mailbox Project at Dongola, Courtesy of Dongola Limited EditionsWhat inspired you to start The Mailbox Project? The project stemmed in...

The Contemporary Syrian Art Auction, a landmark project for the Atassi Foundation for Arts and Culture, in collaboration with ArtScoops, provides a fascinating snapshot of the Middle Eastern country’s art scene, while offering collectors and art enthusiasts a delightfully diverse selection of artworks by some of Syria’s most talented artists....

Born across two continents on the back of global goodwill, ‘Artists with Beirut’ is an online benefit art auction, hosted by ArtScoops, with a truly international reach, as its organisers, Sabine El Gemayel and Mira Hawa, explain Like others with family in Lebanon, when, on August 4, a massive explosion ripped through Beirut Port and across much...