Last Thursday Ayyam Gallery, one of the most prominent galleries in the Middle East, launched its highly anticipated London gallery space with a crowd of about 700 people attending the private view. It was THE place to be with a long queue of people outside the gallery waiting to get in. Ayyam Gallery is already representing emerging and established Arab and Iranian artists in galleries in Damascus, Syria, Beirut, Lebanon, and Dubai, UAE. With its expansion into Europe Khaled and Hisham Samawi, the gallery’s founders, hope to not only gain a global reach but to also challenge the popular perception of Middle Eastern Art.
The gallery’s first exhibition shows the work of Lebanese artist and architect Nadim Karam. His beautiful reflective “urban toys” sculptures are exhibited alongside his wonderful multi-media paintings, which depict the interplay between love and war. It is truly an exhibition not to be missed so come on down to this exciting new gallery on New Bond Street, and before you go why not have a listen to this BBC interview with Nadim – Enjoy!
Some of my images of the night are below!
Nadim Karam at his exhibition “Shooting the cloud” at Ayyam Gallery, London.
Ayyam Gallery, New Bond Street, London.
Nadim Karam’s exhibition “Shooting the cloud” at Ayyam Gallery, London.
Nadim Karam’s exhibition “Shooting the cloud” at Ayyam Gallery, London.
Joy Asfar, the manager of Ayyam Gallery London, at the private view on Thursday.
Nadim Karam (left) and Khaled Samawi (right), one of the gallery’s founders, at the launch of Ayyam Gallery London.
Guests enjoying the private view at Ayyam Gallery London last Thursday.