About

ABDULNASSER GHAREM

Born 1973 in Khamis Mushait where he use to live and work. In 1992 Gharem graduated from the King Abdulaziz Academy before attending The Leader Institute in Riyadh. In 2003 he studied at the influential Al- Meftaha Arts Village in Abha and in 2004 Gharem and the Al- Meftaha artists staged a group exhibition, Shattah, which challenged existing modes of art practice in Saudi Arabia. Since then Gharem has exhibited in Europe, the Gulf and the USA, including at Martin Gropius-Bau, LACMA museum, British Museum, V&A museum and the Venice, Sharjah and Berlin Biennales, whilst concurrently being promoted from 2nd Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel in the Saudi Arabian army. He recently made history when his installation Message/Messenger sold for a world record price at auction in Dubai, establishing Gharem as the highest selling living Gulf artist. Gharem donated the proceeds of this sale to Edge of Arabia's campaign to foster art education in his native country. His first monograph ‘Abdulnasser Gharem: Art of Survival’ was published by Booth-Clibborn Editions in London in October 2011. Abdulnasser Gharem is the co founder of Edge of Arabia it was started in the mountains of South Western Saudi Arabia, in March 2003. What began as an unlikely friendship and artistic collaboration is now an internationally recognised platform for dialogue and exchange between the Middle East and western world. As a non-profit social enterprise, Edge of Arabia is committed to reaching new audiences and improving understanding through free exhibitions, publications and public programming. Artist Abdulnasser Gharem moved to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2013 in an attempt to broaden his professional resources and established Gharem Studio in the process. Due to the lack of proper studios for artists in the city of Riyadh, Gharem Studio began as a working space for Abdulnasser. The space attracted fellow artists, photographers and creative minds, who proved to be the first wave of a new Saudi art initiative.

Gharem Studio is a non-profit art organisation founded in 2013 by Abdulnasser Gharem. In 2020, Halla bint Khalid became a co-owner of the studio. Gharem studio is a space where artists can come to learn, create and exchange ideas. "It is a space where artists can be true to themselves,"What we are doing here is trying to help the artists explore their culture, heritage, and personal experiences. They need to dig into their true selves. What characterizes Gharem Studio is that it is a venue for disclosure. Artists unveil their thoughts freely and without trepidation in a place completely clear of prejudice. They gain a particular kind of support which contributes to their progress, liberates their state of mind and engages their intelligence limitlessly. Through its devices and equipment, the studio provides the artists with the tools that contribute to developing their skills. Specialized courses are given in most artistic fields, while trips are organized to visit institutions, museums, and art events around the world. The studio holds a substantial library with books personally selected by Abdulnasser Gharem, specializing in contemporary art. This wealth of knowledge assists studio associates in their research and art projects.Gharem Studio has introduced so many artists to visiting museum directors and curators, showcasing their works to specialists, consequently providing opportunities for participations in local and international shows and events, or shows organized by the studio itself. Gharem Studio acts as an accelerator for certain ideas and issues which society is in dire need of, such as humanitarian and environmental concerns Through the Saudi government’s 2030 Vision, we are living a new age of enlightenment and continuous modernization. Energy and vitality have been pumped into the social body, inviting an open and imaginative vision of the future. As artists, we strive to be in the front rows in creating this future. Gharem Studio also contributes to showcasing artistic ideas in an institutional format, protecting and validating these ideas.

2022 | HOSPITABLE THOUGHTS, MARC STRAUS GALLERY, 299 Grand Street, New York, US.(6 September - 18 December, 2022)
2020 | SMART OBEDIENCE KLUGER GEHORSAM, Galerie Nagel Draxler, Berlin, Germany.(12 Sep - 1 Nov, 2020)
2019 | THE SAFE, Art UNLIMITED, Art Basel, Basel, Switzerland.(13 Jun - 16 Jun, 2019)
2018 | SUBVERSIVE FORMS OF SOCIAL SCULPTURE, Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah, UAE.(26 Sep - 17 Nov, 2018)
2017 | Abdulnasser Gharem: Pause, LACMA, Los Angeles, USA (Apr 16 – 16 Jun, 2017)
2014 | The Awakening, Ayyam Gallery, Dubai, UAE. (17 Mar - 30 April, 2014)
2013 | Edge of Arabia, EOA Gallery, London, UK (9 Oct - 8 Nov, 2013)
2013 | Abdulnasser Gharem, Side by Side Gallery, Berlin, Germany.(25 Apr - 13 Jul, 2013)
2010 | Restored Behaviour, XVA Gallery, Dubai, UAE (17 Jan- 10 Mar, 2010)
2006 | The Path, King Fahd Art Village, Abha, Saudi Arabia
2004 | The White Tongue Who Speaks Slowly, King Fahad Art Village, Abha, Saudi Arabia
2004 | Who Keeps Watching the Sun (Sunflower field), Death Mattered – Attileh, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
2003 | Mute, Attileh, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
2003 | UN Inspector, Attileh, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

2021 | GLASSTRESS BOCA RATON . Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, Florida, US.(27 Jan - 5 Sep, 2021)
2017 | DESERT TO DELTA: CONTEMPORARY ART IN MEMPHIS. ART MUSEUM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS.(8 Oct, 2017 - 6 Jan, 2018)
2017 | MEMORIES OF A JOURNEY HAJJ - EXHIBITION. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi,UAE.(20 Sep, 2017 - 19 Mar, 2018)
2017 | CITIES OF CONVICTION: CONTEMPORARY SAUDI ART IN SALT LAKE CITY UTAH MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY(Aug 25, 2016 – Jan 6, 2017)
2017 | EPICENTER X: CONTEMPORARY SAUDI ART IN DETROIT. ARAB AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM. DEARBORN, MI.(08 Jul - 01 Oct, 2017)
2017 | GLASSTRESS. Palazzo Franchetti, Venice, Italy.(11 May - 26 Nov, 2017)
2016 | PHANTOM PUNCH: CONTEMPORARY SAUDI ART IN LEWISTON BATES COLLEGE MUSEUM OF ART.(28 Oct, 2016 - 18 Mar, 2017)
2016 | GENER#TION Minnesota Street Project, San Francisco,CA.(11 Aug - 6 Sep, 2016)
2016 | GONZO ARABIA: CONTEMPORARY SAUDI ART IN ASPEN Boogie's Retail, Aspen, Colorado,US.(30 Jun - 1 Sep, 2016)
2016 | Parallel Kingdom, Station Museum, Houston,Texas(8 Jun - 2 Oct, 2016)
2016 | Illumination, New contemporary art at the Louisiana, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, Denmark (1 Mar - 11 Sep , 2016)
2015 | Ricochet - Asia House Gallery, London, UK (12 Oct - 18 Oct, 2015)
2015 | Saudi Art Contemporary, Chalet Saqqarah, Gstaad, Switzerland (18 Apr, 2015)
2014 | View from Inside: Contemporary Arab Photography FotoFest, Houston, Texas, USA (14 Mar - 27 Apr, 2014)
2014 | Word and Illumination Le Meridien Medina Hall, Madinah, Saudi Arabia (10 Feb - 15 Apr, 2014)
2014 | Arab Contemporary, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, Denmark (31 Jan - 4 May, 2014)
2012 | Light from the Middle East: New Photography – Victoria & Albert Museum, London (13 Nov, 2012 – 7 April, 2013)
2012 | 25 YEARS OF ARAB CREATIVITY Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France (Oct 16, 2012 - Feb 3, 2013)
2012 | #COMETOGETHER, Edge of Arabia London (07 Oct - 28 Oct, 2012)
2012 | VOICE OF IMAGES- PALAZZO GRASSI, Venice, Italy (30 Aug, 2012 - 13 Jan, 2013)
2012 | EDGE OF ARABIA : CONTEMPORARY ART FROM SAUDI ARABIA - GALERIE KRINZINGER, SEILERSTÄTTE, VIENNA, AUSTRIA (21 JUN - 07 JUL, 2012)
2012 | Arab Express: The Latest Art From the Arab World – Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan (16 Jun – 28 Oct, 2012)
2012 | Porta dell”Oriente – Roma Contemporary, Italy (25 - 27 May, 2012)
2012 | Bending History – Katara Galleries, Doha Qatar (8 Mar – 8 April, 2012)
2012 | Hajj, Journey to the Heart of Islam – British Museum, London (26 Jan-15 Apr , 2012)
2012 | WE NEED TO TALK - Edge of Arabia - Al Furusia Marina, Jeddah (20 Jan - 26 Feb, 2012)
2012 | Contemporary Istanbul – Turkey ( 22-25 Nov, 2012)
2011 | Political Patterns – ifa-Galerie, Berlin (8 Jul - 3 Oct, 2011)
2011 | The Future of a Promise: Contemporary Art from the Arab World – Magazzini del Sale, 54th Venice Biennale (3 Jun - 30 Nov 2011)
2011 | The Bravery of Being Out of Range – Athr Gallery, Jeddah (May 17 – Jun 11, 2011)
2011 |The New Middle East – Willem Baars Projects, Amsterdam (21 May - 30 Jun, 2011)
2011 | Edge of Arabia Dubai: TERMINAL– Building 9, Gate Village, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai (14 Mar - 15 Apr, 2011)
2011 | Uppers & Downers – Traffic, Dubai (9 Feb - 5 Mar, 2011)
2011 | Nujoom: Constellations of Arab Art from The Farjam Collection – The Farjam Collection @ DIFC, Dubai (Nov, 2010 – Mar, 2011)
2011 | I Don’t Need Your Money Honey All I Need is Love – Traffic, Dubai (5 Jan –27 Jan, 2011)
2010 | Edge of Arabia Istanbul: TRANSITION – Sanat Limani, Antrepo 5 (10 Nov - 11 Dec, 2010)
2010 | Opening the Doors: Collecting Middle Eastern Art, Abu Dhabi Art (3 Nov - 7 Nov, 2010)
2010 | CAVE: Contemporary Arab Video Encounter – Maraya Arts Centre, Sharjah (2 Nov - 11 Dec, 2010)
2010 | Emerging Asian Artists, Gwangju Biennale (3 Sep - 7 Nov, 2010)
2010 | Edge of Arabia Berlin: Grey Borders/Grey Frontiers – Soho House, Berlin (10 Jun - 18 Jul, 2010)
2010 | Fuck Ups, Fables and Fiascos – Galerie Caprice Horn, Berlin (8 Jun-17 Sep, 2010)
2010 | Edge of Arabia World Tour Launch – Global Competitiveness Forum, Riyadh (23 Jan-26 Jan, 2010)
2009 | Taswir: Pictorial Mappings of Islam and Modernity – Martin Gropius-Bau, Berlin (5 Nov, 2009 - 18 Jan, 2010)
2009 | The 28th Annual Exhibition – Gulf Fine Arts Society, Sharjah (10 Mar, 2009)
2009 | Edge of Arabia Venice – Palazzo Polignac, 53rd Venice Biennale (05 Jun - 02 Aug, 2009)
2008 | Edge of Arabia London: Contemporary Art from Saudi Arabia – SOAS Brunei Gallery, University of London (05 Jun - 02 Aug, 2008)
2007 | Still Life: Art, Ecology and the Politics of Change – Sharjah Biennial 8 (4 Apr - 4 Jun, 2007)
2006 | Son of Aseer – Al-Meftaha Arts Village, Abha (10 Oct-30 Oct, 2006)
2004 | Shattah – Atelier Gallery, Jeddah (27 Apr -14 May, 2004)

Pinault Collection, Palazzo Grassi. Venice, Italy
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art | Humlebaek, Denmark
The British Museum | London, UK
V&A Museum | London, UK
Los Angeles County Museum of Art | California, USA
Palazzo Grassi | Venice, Italy
Greenbox Museum | Amsterdam, Holland
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture & Information | Saudi Arabia BASMOCA: Basma Al Sulaiman Museum of Contemporary Art | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
The Barjeel Art Foundation | Sharjah, UAE
Nadour Collection | Germany
The Jameel Foundation
The Farook Collection
The Farjam Collection
Kamel Lazaar Foundation

2024 | Gesine, Borcherdt. Dream On Baby: Artists and Their Childhood Memories Germany: Hatje Cantz. ISBN 9783775756822
2016 | Loring, Danforth. Crossing the Kingdom: Portraits of Saudi Arabia. United State: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0520290273
2012 | Jameel, Porter, King, Stapleton, Al-Turki. Edge of Arabia: Contemporary Art from Saudi Arabia London: Booth Clibborn.ISBN 1861543239
2012 | Porter, Venetia. Hajj, journey to the heart of Islam. London: Harvard University Press. ISBN 0674062183
2011 | Hemming, Henry. Abdulnasser Gharem: Art of Survival. London: Booth-Clibborn. ISBN 1861543247
2011 | Lazaar, Lina and Downey, Anthony. The Future of a Promise. London: Ibraaz. ISBN 978-1-86154-323-3