ABU DHABI — Art lovers in the Middle East are in for a rare treat as Sotheby’s prepares to bring a world-class fine art exhibition to Abu Dhabi from October 1 to 2. The event will feature masterpieces by legendary artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, Paul Gauguin, Edvard Munch, Rene Magritte, and Camille Pissarro.
The exhibition, held at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation, will display six major works with a total value of approximately $150 million. This marks Sotheby’s most valuable exhibition ever presented in the Middle East, and it will offer visitors a unique chance to see some pieces that have not been publicly displayed for over 50 years.
Among the highlights is Frida Kahlo’s “El Sueño (La Cama)” painted in 1940 during a period of personal struggle. The painting is estimated to be worth $40 to $60 million, making it the highest-valued Kahlo piece to date. Van Gogh’s “Romans Parisiens (Les Livres jaunes)”, valued at around $40 million, will also be on display. First shown in Paris in 1888, this work is considered one of Van Gogh’s most important still-life paintings and is rarely exhibited publicly.
Other key works include Gauguin’s “La Maison de Pen du, gardeuse de vache” (1889), Pissarro’s “Bords de l’Oise a Pontoise” (1872), Munch’s “Sankthansnatt Johannisnacht (Midsummer Night’s Eve)”, and Magritte’s “Le Jockey perdu” (1942). Each piece comes from private collections of prominent art patrons, including Leonard Lauder, Cindy and Jay Pritzker, and Matthew and Kay Bucksbaum.
This exhibition is especially significant because it is the first time these works will be shown in the Middle East. Many of the paintings have not been displayed publicly for decades, providing a rare opportunity for visitors to experience these cultural treasures up close.
Following the Abu Dhabi showcase, the collection will travel to London and Paris before heading to New York for Sotheby’s November auctions. Art enthusiasts and collectors from around the world are expected to follow the journey of these masterpieces closely, as the exhibition highlights the global reach and enduring appeal of some of the most iconic artists in history.
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