Art World Despite the Beirut Blast, a Lebanese Publisher Is Forging Ahead With a Project to Unite 50 International Middle Eastern Artists Each artist involved in the effort is creating an artist's book documenting their life in the past few months. By Rebecca Anne Proctor, Sep 7, 2020
Politics ‘We Are Having Trouble Living Without Fear’: Beirut’s Cultural Sector Starts to Pick Up the Pieces After the City’s Deadly Explosion To truly appreciate the challenges Beirut faces, one must first understand the context in which the explosion erupted. By Rebecca Anne Proctor, Aug 17, 2020
Analysis The UAE Is Emerging From Lockdown, But Some Say Its International, Cosmopolitan Art Scene Will Never Be the Same Slumping oil prices, limited government support, and a reliance on international tourists spell difficult years ahead for the culture sector. By Rebecca Anne Proctor, Jun 3, 2020
Market Art Dubai Downsizes Its 2020 Fair Due to Growing Concern Over the Spread of Coronavirus Fair organizers will still stage a local program on Art Dubai's original dates. By Rebecca Anne Proctor, Mar 3, 2020
Art World With Help from a Nigerian Prince, a Bold New Contemporary Art Museum Is Set to Open in Lagos “Culture and art are absolutely crucial to the health of a nation," says Prince Shyllon, one of the country's biggest collectors. By Rebecca Anne Proctor, Feb 11, 2020
On View ‘We Had the Guts to Say Yes to This’: Artists Explain Why They Ignored Widespread Censure to Participate in Desert X’s Saudi Edition Artists participating in the controversial show are striving for a message of unity. By Rebecca Anne Proctor, Feb 6, 2020
Politics ‘I Am Not Part of Some Propaganda Machine’: Artists and Curators Defend Their Participation in the Saudi-Backed Show Desert X AlUla Artistic director Neville Wakefield says that those who don't embrace cross-cultural exchange are "part of the problem." By Rebecca Anne Proctor, Jan 29, 2020
Art Fairs Christie’s Has Cancelled Plans for a Middle Eastern Art Auction in Dubai, Citing a Lack of Top-Quality Works The auction house will still hold a London sale of Middle Eastern art in October. By Rebecca Anne Proctor, Jan 24, 2020
Shows & Exhibitions The Second Lagos Biennial Takes Over a Former Government Building to Imagine What Would Happen If Artists Were in Charge of Our Future The show, organized by a three-person team, presents work by Nigerian and international artists inside a decaying former government office. By Rebecca Anne Proctor, Nov 8, 2019
Art Fairs ‘The Idea Here Is to Go Big’: Galleries at the Art X Lagos Fair Work to Cultivate Africa’s Largest Economy Against the backdrop of impending recession, the event is on a mission to become the preeminent contemporary art fair on the continent. By Rebecca Anne Proctor, Nov 5, 2019
Art Guides Contemporary Art From Africa Is Seizing Global Attention. Here’s Your Guide to Six Emergent Art Markets Making It Happen Here is your guide to six dynamic emerging art capitals: Accra, Addis Ababa, Cape Town, Dakar, Lagos, and Marrakech. By Rebecca Anne Proctor, Oct 2, 2019
Analysis ‘You Make a Decision to Continue’: Amid a Crushing National Deficit, Beirut’s Art Scene Finds Creative Ways to Stay Afloat Many were pleasantly surprised by the strong attendance at the recent Beirut Art Fair. But for some, it's still not enough. By Rebecca Anne Proctor, Sep 27, 2019
Art World ‘We Have Our Own Individual Voices’: Saudi Artists Debate Their Place in the Kingdom as the West Becomes Wary of Its Commitment to Progress The kingdom is gambling on culture as a new economic driver. By Rebecca Anne Proctor, Sep 12, 2019
Analysis Ethiopia’s Art Scene Has Long Suffered From a Disinterested Government. But Shifting Politics Might Soon Make Culture a Priority Ethiopia's art community is cautiously optimistic about its new government. By Rebecca Anne Proctor, Jul 23, 2019
Politics For Years, Iran’s Art Scene Has Been a Pioneer in the Middle East. Now US Sanctions Are Knocking Its Artists Back to the 18th Century All-cash deals, logistical nightmares, scarce art materials—this is what life is like for artists living in Iran under crushing sanctions. By Rebecca Anne Proctor, Jun 17, 2019
