Faisal Samra
Untitled
2023
Charcoal, ink and oil on canvas
120 x 120 cm; 47 ¼ x 47 ¼ inches
$45,000 USD
Faisal Samra (b.1955, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia) is a pioneering contemporary artist in the Arab Gulf region. Educated at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, his transdisciplinary practice (from painting to video to performance and beyond) explores themes of identity, existence, cultural tension, and the influence of mass media, often depicting the human figure in thought-provoking ways. Early works while in Paris are distinguished by expressionist drawings and paintings that investigate the figure in motion or at rest, a formative period that has formed the conceptual basis for many later works across various mediums.
Nasser Al Salem
No Photography
From the Prohibition Series
2013
Handmade, gold leaf and ink on archival paper
40 x 100 cm; 15 ¾ x 39 ⅜ inches
$12,000 USD
Nasser Al Salem (b.1984, Holy City of Makkah) is a conceptual visual artist and calligrapher whose work reimagines traditional Arabic script. Al Salem’s calligraphy is more than just inscription; it is a means of revelation, where text becomes a living structure that embodies the concepts it conveys. In the ‘Prohibition’ (or ‘Prohibited’) series, he illustrates traditional Islamic manuscripts (often associated with holy text), at odds with their quotidian translations like ‘no photography’, or ‘no smoking.’ By integrating subversion of language, material, form, and spiritual essence, his work offers a multi-layered experience that transcends the written word, reshaping how we perceive both language and image.
Rashed AlShashai
R3
2026
Acrylic and salt on canvas
120 x 120 cm; 47 ¼ x 47 ¼ inches
$30,000 USD
Rashed AlShashai (b.1977, Al Bahah, Saudi Arabia) has a deeply conceptual artistic practice, grounded in the idea that the ordinary can serve as a lens for examining social, political, and cultural phenomena. His work consistently prioritizes the concept over medium, resulting in a diverse body of installations, sculptural assemblages, and mixed-media compositions that shift according to the idea at hand. Early works engaged with the urgent political realities of contemporary Saudi society, addressing terrorism, religious extremism, and ideological conflict. Other works have translated abstract political and social tensions into tangible, immersive forms, guiding viewers to confront and reflect on the forces shaping their environment.
