A new sale format will be introduced to Christie’s Middle East sales this month, bringing the bi-annual Modern and Contemporary art auctions in-line with other international art sales held in New York and London.

In addition to the existing evening sale of Modern and Contemporary Arab, Iranian and Turkish Art, a new part II sale will be inaugurated to complement the existing sale.

Michael Jeha, managing director of Christie’s Middle East, said: “Those who are already familiar with Christie’s sales in Dubai will see no difference in the quality of what is available but we hope they will notice much more variety and diversity.”

“We anticipate that this new part II sale will encourage the next generation of collectors to buy at auction and provide an international platform for the work of a dynamic group of young and ambitious artists from all over the Middle East, to be better known.”

The Part II sale to be held on October 26 will include an inspiring group of six works by some of Iraq’s most innovative contemporary artists, including a drawing made especially for the sale by the internationally recognized Ahmed Alsoudani.

Proceeds from the sale will benefit Echo (Sada), a new non-profit organization established to support new works, education programmes, preservation initiatives and research in the realm of contemporary art in Iraq and the Diaspora.

The sale includes photographic work by Lateefa Binta Maktoum and Lamya Gargash and a digital print by Saeed Khalifa with estimates from $3,000.

Another first in the part II sale sees the introduction of works on paper. This is a regular category included in other international art sales and allows collectors to acquire work by leading figures for less than an oil or fully worked piece.

The trio of lots includes a monochrome triptych by Paul Guiragossian and a set of colourful landscapes by Fateh Moudarres. – TradeArabia News Service