Art Market Minute
Wael Shawky on the Middle East Market
The artist wants to reshape the region’s art ecosystem from the inside out.
Sonia Manalili &
Margaret Carrigan
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The debut edition of Art Basel Qatar just wrapped in Doha. The fair was notable not only for its smaller, curated format but also because it signaled a long-term investment in building a sustainable art market in the Gulf.
Courtesy of Art Basel Qatar.
Egyptian artist Wael Shawky—best known for representing Egypt at the 2024 Venice Biennale—served as the fair’s artistic director, an unconventional role that brought curatorial vision to the commercial platform. I caught up with Shawky on the fair floor to discuss his vision for the first Art Basel Qatar, the challenges of growing regional infrastructure, and why building a sustainable art ecosystem means leveraging both education and the market.
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