Christie’s will host its third annual Arab Art Exhibition, titled "Marwan: A Soul in Exile," at its London headquarters from 16 July to 22 August 2025. The non-selling retrospective features over 150 works on loan from museums, institutions, and private collections across Europe and the Middle East, spanning paintings, drawings, works on paper, and editions. Curated by Dr. Ridha Moumni, Chairman of Christie’s Middle East & Africa, the exhibition traces the six-decade career of Syrian-born artist Marwan Kassab Bachi (1934–2016), known for his facial landscapes that blend German expressionism with Syrian identity and Arab political themes.
This exhibition matters because it represents a defining moment in the recognition of Marwan’s legacy, positioning him as one of the most important Arab artists and a leading figure in contemporary German art. By bringing together comprehensive loans from major collections, Christie’s continues to elevate Middle Eastern art on an international stage, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and making these masterpieces accessible to a London audience during the summer. The show underscores the growing institutional and market interest in Arab modernism and the broader diversification of the global art canon.