Masterpieces by Kandinsky, Picasso and Rothko arrive in the capital alongside a landmark auction celebrating 20 years of Middle Eastern art.
Abu Dhabi is preparing to welcome an exceptional collection of artworks valued at more than $130 million, as Christie’s brings masterpieces by Wassily Kandinsky, Pablo Picasso and Mark Rothko to the capital. The exhibition opens at The Abu Dhabi EDITION on October 28 and precedes the auction house’s first fine-art sale in Abu Dhabi on 1 November.
The presentation brings together highlights from Christie’s forthcoming New York 20th and 21st Century sales alongside MAWASIM: 20 Years of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art, an anniversary auction commemorating two decades since Christie’s held its inaugural UAE sale in Dubai in 2006.
Among the most significant works travelling to Abu Dhabi is Kandinsky’s Betonte Ecken (1923), estimated at $60 million to $80 million. A pivotal work in the development of abstraction, the painting dates from a period when Kandinsky explored the relationship between colour, geometry, and music. Formerly part of the Guggenheim Museum collection, it demonstrates the artist’s ambition to create a unified artistic experience through carefully orchestrated forms and colour.
The painting is joined by Rothko’s Untitled (1968), estimated at $10 million to $15 million. Created after a serious health crisis forced the artist to abandon large-scale canvases, the intimate composition features floating bands of red, pink and white. Its smaller format offers a particularly personal expression of the artist’s distinctive approach to colour.
Picasso’s Tête de femme (1939), estimated at $12 million to $18 million, completes the trio. Painted during his time in Royan, the portrait depicts Dora Maar, whose features appear to intersect with those of Marie-Thérèse Walter, another important figure in Picasso’s life. The overlapping profiles create a psychologically complex image characteristic of his work during this period.
While these international masterpieces draw considerable attention, the exhibition’s broader significance lies in MAWASIM, which puts the artistic history of the Middle East and North Africa firmly in the spotlight.
Taking place on 1 November, the auction features 70 works spanning nine decades, with important pieces from collections including Beirut’s Dalloul Collection and Sharjah’s Barjeel Art Foundation. The selection brings together pioneering modernists and contemporary artists whose practices have shaped the region’s artistic identity.
Among the highlights is Afaq Halima (Space) (1989) by Saudi artist Abdul Halim Radwi. Estimated at $250,000 to $350,000, the monumental painting combines celestial imagery, dynamic abstraction and references to Islamic traditions, reflecting the optimism surrounding scientific and technological progress in the late 20th century.
Sudanese artist Ibrahim el-Salahi is represented by Meditation Tree 6 (2026), a large-scale sculpture inspired by the Haraz tree, a recurring symbol in his work. Originally created for Salahi’s Forest at Desert X AlUla 2026, the sculpture explores resilience, spirituality, and collective identity, translating the artist’s longstanding fascination with natural form into three dimensions.
Another important work is Self Portrait (1966) by Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour. From the Dalloul Collection, the painting offers an introspective study of the artist, his illuminated face emerging against a dark background. Following Mansour’s death in August 2026, the work carries particular historical and emotional significance.
Beyond the auction, Christie’s will present a selection of fine art available through Private Sales, alongside exceptional jewellery and timepieces available to view by appointment.
The event arrives at an important moment for Abu Dhabi’s cultural landscape, with the inaugural Frieze Abu Dhabi in November and the opening of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi scheduled for December. Twenty years after Christie’s first UAE auction, its arrival in the capital reflects the growing international significance of the region’s collectors, institutions and artistic communities.
The exhibition runs from October 28 to November 1, 2026, at The Abu Dhabi EDITION, with the live MAWASIM auction on November 1 at 5pm.
Images: CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2026
