ArtDayME: Christie’s has announced a partnership with Alserkal Avenue to bring a major exhibition of works by the late Syrian artist Marwan Kassab-Bachi to Dubai. Titled Marwan: A Soul in Exile, the exhibition will be held at Concrete in Alserkal Avenue from 12 to 22 April 2026, coinciding with Alserkal Art Week and Art Dubai.

The presentation marks the twentieth anniversary of Christie’s first auction of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art in Dubai and highlights the auction house’s long-standing commitment to the region. The exhibition builds on a recent large-scale show at Christie’s London, which formed part of the auction house’s annual Arab Art Exhibition series.

A Soul in Exile charts the remarkable career of Marwan Kassab-Bachi, known simply as Marwan, whose figurative works from the 1960s, the Marionette series, and distinctive portraits explored themes of identity, exile, and belonging. The London exhibition gathered close to 200 works from major institutions across the Arab world, Europe, and the US, celebrating Marwan’s global stature and his dialogue between the Arab world and the West.

^{“MARWAN: A Soul in Exile” at Christie’s London (2025)}

The Dubai iteration will reimagine the exhibition for a regional audience, delving deeper into Marwan’s role as a teacher and cultural bridge. It will particularly highlight his years directing the Summer Academy at Darat al Funun in Amman (1999–2003), where he mentored a generation of regional artists—many of whom now live and work in the UAE.

The collaboration between Christie’s and Alserkal Avenue underscores Dubai’s growing role as an international art capital, while celebrating Marwan’s enduring legacy as both artist and educator.

^{“MARWAN: A Soul in Exile” at Christie’s London (2025)}