Sotheby’s London is hosting an exhibition previewing highlights from its upcoming Modern & Contemporary Middle East and Arts of the Islamic World & India auctions. Featured works include Abdulhalim Radwi’s 'Untitled (Desert Scene)' (1975), a mix of oil and sand on canvas estimated at £40,000–£60,000; Ahmed Mater’s 'X-ray Painting 5' from his pioneering series blending medicine and art; Paul Guiragossian’s 'Portefaix en Chomage,' depicting unemployed porters; and Fahrelnissa Zeid’s 'Untitled (Flowers)' from the late 1940s, bridging figurative and abstract styles.
This exhibition underscores the growing global market interest in Middle Eastern modern and contemporary art, as major auction houses like Sotheby’s dedicate specialized sales to the region. The inclusion of artists such as Radwi and Mater highlights the evolution of Saudi art from local realism to internationally recognized contemporary practice, while works by Zeid and Guiragossian reflect the rich cross-cultural heritage of the Levant. The auction estimates and Sotheby’s promotional focus signal that Middle Eastern art is increasingly valued as a distinct and investment-worthy category in the global art market.