ArtBAB rakes in over BD 93,000

The 2019 edition of ArtBAB, Bahrain’s premier international art platform, was marked by a triumphant engagement of new ideas and new avenues to take Bahraini artists to bigger global platforms. Held under the patronage of HRH Princess Sabeekha bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of the King, the show saw eleven countries participating in the fair this year: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Russia, Bulgaria, Argentina, India, Belgium, UK, Italy, and Portugal.

The 16 participating international galleries recorded sales of BD93,156. This year, the annual fair also saw a rise in sales overall, ringing in BD257, 700 in overall sales. Of this, Bahraini artists recorded sales of BD156, 097 which is a jump over last year’s BD 147, 900 and the highest recorded so far at ArtBAB.

Participating in local galleries and universities recorded total sales of BD11,050. The Bahrain-based galleries and universities included Baghdad Art Gallery, the Bahrain Contemporary Art Association, Art for Heart, the University of Bahrain and the Royal University for Women. This year there were 17 artist stands and a BAAB Pavilion of Bahraini contemporary art show framing the works of 30 selected Bahraini artists.

“The success of the Bahraini artists, especially the emerging talent, is a sign that ArtBAB as a movement has clearly helped to elevate the recognition levels and commercial victory of Bahraini art which is increasingly finding a place in some of the most prestigious collections around the world,” commented Fairs and Programme Director Kaneka Subberwal. She added, “The growing weight of excellence that the ArtBAB shows have brought to international attention, has resulted in many significant collaborations and exposure.

Ten Bahraini artists will be participating in an artists’ residency programme in New York, founded by well-known art authority Nathalie Angles. The eighteen-month programme which begins in September 2019, will be a valuable insight for our artists on trends and techniques of the contemporary art scene internationally. The artists will attend the residency in two batches of five artists each.”