Arab, Iranian & Turkish Art
(Modern & Contemporary)

Modern & Contemporary Arab, Iranian & Turkish Art has over the last three years become an established category on the international auction circuit. Pioneering artists from all over the Middle East region are represented in Christie’s auctions, many being showcased for the first time on the international art market platform.

In May 2006 Christie’s in Dubai held its inaugural sale of International Modern and Contemporary Art. This was the first Christie’s auction to feature Modern & Contemporary Arab & Iranian Art. The Arab and Iranian section exceeded all expectations, almost tripling its presale estimate, with $2.2 million raised from this category alone. Just eight months later, at the second of these sales in Dubai in February 2007, a comparable selection of Arab and Iranian art raised just over $4 million. However, the sale in October 2007 was the true watershed with over $12.6 million of Arab and Iranian Art sold in one evening.

The fourth series of sales in April 2008 sold over $18 million for Arab and Iranian art. For the first time in this category in any auction house, three works in this category achieved $1 million hammer price or above; whilst the fifth sale in October 2008 included Turkish art for the first time.

Held in April and October, the Dubai auctions continue to act as a major catalyst in the development of the contemporary art market in the Middle East. In 2008 Christie's has begun to include a section of Modern Arab and Iranian art in our Orientalist sales, held in June and December.