BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//magpie - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:magpie
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://magpie.ae
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for magpie
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Asia/Dubai
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0400
TZOFFSETTO:+0400
TZNAME:+04
DTSTART:20230101T000000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260305T110000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260305T123000
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20260226T110302Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T110302Z
UID:10013493-1772708400-1772713800@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:The Story of Art: On the Path to Modern Art – Post-Impressionism
DESCRIPTION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation’s monthly lecture series\, led by Dr Michaela Watrelot\, BFAF Curator and Director of Exhibitions\, continues with a search for deeper structure\, symbolism\, and emotional intensity that laid the foundations for modern art. The focus is on the works of Cézanne\, van Gogh\, Gauguin\, and Seurat\, and the lecture will examine how colour\, form\, and composition were reimagined.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/the-story-of-art-on-the-path-to-modern-art-post-impressionism/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Lecture
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/A-Sunday-Afternoon-on-the-Island-of-La-Grande-Jatte.webp
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260219T110000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260219T123000
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20260216T164815Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260216T164815Z
UID:10013436-1771498800-1771504200@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:The Story of Art: Impressionism – The Power of Light
DESCRIPTION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation continues its monthly lecture series led by Dr Michaela Watrelot\, BFAF Curator and Director of Exhibitions. This time the focus is on one of the most transformative movements in modern art\, using works of Monet\, Renoir\, Degas\, and Pissarro to show how artists experimented with new techniques to convey atmosphere and movement in a decisive break from academic tradition. \n 
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/the-story-of-art-impressionism-the-power-of-light/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Lecture
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Claude-Monet-Impression-Sunrise-1-1042x695-1.webp
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260213
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260214
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20260203T120127Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260203T120448Z
UID:10013384-1770940800-1771027199@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Reflections: Modern and Contemporary Art from the Villain Collection
DESCRIPTION:Modern and contemporary works from Syria\, Lebanon\, North Africa\, and the UAE selected from the impressive private collection of Fairouz and Jean-Paul Villain – a pair of collectors for whom the acquisition of works has been a way of engaging with artists and the places they call home. As the Foundation puts it\, “their collection brings together works that speak to personal histories and cultural exchange … while inviting you to experience the region through their eyes”. \nTo 31 May. \nAbove: Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim\, Pinky Boulevard (2020)
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/reflections-modern-and-contemporary-art-from-the-villain-collection/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Exhibition
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Mohamed-Ahmed-Ibrahim-Pinky-Boulevard-Acrylic-on-canvas-155-x-155-cm-2020-scaled-1.webp
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260212
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260213
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20260209T090548Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T090548Z
UID:10013411-1770854400-1770940799@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Émilie Dubois: Home Is Not a Place
DESCRIPTION:Inspired by the experience of living and working alongside people from across the globe in the UAE\, this exhibition by the UAE-based Guatemalan artist on a theme that will resonate with many expats – where actually is ‘home’?  It features a central interactive living room installation plus high-colour mixed media works. \nThere’s a private artist-led preview at 2-4pm on 13 February which “transitions into a coffee experience accompanied by a DJ set\, creating a relaxed and social atmosphere to experience the exhibition”. RSVP here.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/emilie-dubois-home-is-not-a-place/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Exhibition
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260125
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260126
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20251113T092031Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T092623Z
UID:10013063-1769299200-1769385599@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:LAST CHANCE Al Burda Exhibition: The Shape of Meaning
DESCRIPTION:In response to the Nja Mahdaoui retrospective in the main gallery at BFAF\, this exhibition presents loans from the Ministry of Culture’s Al Burda exhibitions from 2008 to 2023. Al Burda was/is an annual exhibition where contemporary artists engage with the cultural and semantic power of the written word while experimenting with form and medium; this exhibition provides a dialogue between calligraphy as abstract form and as linguistic tradition\, showing how artists today both inherit and reinvent tradition.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/last-chance-al-burda-exhibition-the-shape-of-meaning/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Exhibition
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260125
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260126
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20251012T133740Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251012T133740Z
UID:10012901-1769299200-1769385599@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:LAST CHANCE Nja Mahdaoui: the Choreographer of Letters
DESCRIPTION:This focused retrospective surveys over six decades of practice by the Tunisian multimedia artist Nja Mahdaoui\, an influential figures in Arab modern art who repurposed Arabic calligraphy into a visual and abstract contemporary art form. This show\, o-curated by Michaela Watrelot\, head curator and director of exhibitions at Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, and the artist’s daughter Molka Mahdaoui\, bridges tradition and modernity to signify notions of identity and heritage.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/last-chance-nja-mahdaoui-the-choreographer-of-letters/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Exhibition
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260115T110000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260115T123000
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20260108T135344Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260108T135800Z
UID:10013220-1768474800-1768480200@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:The Story of Art: The Age of Reason and Revolution – From Academic to Realism
DESCRIPTION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation continues its monthly lecture series led by Dr Michaela Watrelot\, BFAF Curator and Director of Exhibitions. This time it explores a pivotal moment in art history shaped by political upheaval\, intellectual transformation\, and shifting social ideals in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Featuring the works of Delacroix\, David\, Goya\, and Turner\, the lecture traces the transition from academic tradition to expressive\, emotionally charged\, and socially engaged forms of painting. \n 
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/the-story-of-art-the-age-of-reason-and-revolution-from-academic-to-realism/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Lecture
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/tres_de_mayo137551_1-1.webp
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260110T150000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260110T170000
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20260107T110508Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T110508Z
UID:10013212-1768057200-1768064400@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Calligraphy Workshop
DESCRIPTION:A hands-on introduction for beginners and curious learners: the workshop introduces traditional scaling and measurement techniques\, offering a clear and accessible entry point into the art of calligraphy. Participants will explore the fundamentals of Arabic calligraphy\, learning basic strokes\, proportions\, and letter construction in the Thuluth script.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/calligraphy-workshop/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Calligraphy,Workshop
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251211T110000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251211T123000
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20251204T104840Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251204T104840Z
UID:10013127-1765450800-1765456200@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:The Story of Art Lecture: It’s All in the Details – the Dutch Golden Age
DESCRIPTION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation continues its monthly lecture series led by Dr Michaela Watrelot\, BFAF Curator and Director of Exhibitions. This it’s the artistic flourishing of 17th-century Netherlands\, where prosperity and everyday life found new visual meaning – think Rembrandt’s introspective self-portraits and Vermeer’s serene domestic interiors. Still lifes\, genre scenes\, and cityscapes reveal a society reshaping the purpose of art\, offering a deeper understanding of how beauty emerged from observation\, detail\, and the rhythms of daily life.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/the-story-of-art-lecture-its-all-in-the-details-the-dutch-golden-age/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Lecture
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/night_watch.webp
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251118
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251119
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20251113T091905Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251118T175507Z
UID:10013062-1763424000-1763510399@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Al Burda Exhibition: The Shape of Meaning
DESCRIPTION:As a complement to the Nja Mahdaoui retrospective in the main gallery at BFAF\, this exhibition presents loans from the Ministry of Culture’s Al Burda exhibitions from 2008 to 2023. Al Burda was an annual exhibition where contemporary artists engaged with the cultural and semantic power of the written word while experimenting with form and medium; this exhibition provides a dialogue between calligraphy as abstract form and as linguistic tradition\, showing how artists today both inherit and reinvent tradition and highlighting how they can be both custodians and innovators \nThe exhibition is accompanied by a programme of calligraphy workshops and educational events highlighting the history of Arabic script. \nTo 25 January. \nAbove: Taj AlSer Hassan (2016)
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/al-burda-exhibition-the-shape-of-meaning/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Calligraphy,Exhibition
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Taj-AlSer-Hassan-2016.webp
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251026
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251027
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20250930T125117Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T125117Z
UID:10012784-1761436800-1761523199@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:LAST CHANCE Nat Bowen: Chromology
DESCRIPTION:Known for works of glossy\, abstract resin poured on to acrylic\, Bowen creates luminous\, aqueous fields that transform colour into a language of emotion and presence. With this show\, says the gallery\, “viewers are invited into an intimate space of reflection\, where colour is not simply observed but experienced as a catalyst for calm and psychological resonance”.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/last-chance-nat-bowen-chromology/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Exhibition
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251024
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251025
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20251012T134935Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251012T134935Z
UID:10012902-1761264000-1761350399@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Constructing the Orient: Fragments of a Western Dream
DESCRIPTION:Drawn from the private collection of Bassam Said Freiha plus key loans from the Ary Jan Gallery\, this exhibition of Orientalist works  unfolds across five thematic sections\, each focusing on a central motif within Orientalist visual language and examining how artists shaped their subjects into recurring archetypes. From imagined interiors and bustling marketplaces to archetypes of men and women\, the works on view invite audiences to reflect on how the ‘Orient’ was constructed through Western eyes and how these images continue to shape perceptions today. \nTo 31 May. \nAbove: Jean-Léon Gérôme\, The Harem Promenade (undated)
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/constructing-the-orient-fragments-of-a-western-dream/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Exhibition
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/The-Harem-Promenade-undated-by-Jean-Leon-Gerome-France-1824–1904.webp
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251024
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251025
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20251012T133702Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251012T133702Z
UID:10012900-1761264000-1761350399@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Nja Mahdaoui: the Choreographer of Letters
DESCRIPTION:This focused retrospective surveys over six decades of practice by the Tunisian multimedia artist Nja Mahdaoui\, an influential figures in Arab modern art who repurposed Arabic calligraphy into a visual and abstract contemporary art form. This show\, o-curated by Michaela Watrelot\, head curator and director of exhibitions at Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, and the artist’s daughter Molka Mahdaoui\, bridges tradition and modernity to signify notions of identity and heritage. \nTo 25 January. \nAbove: Nja Mahdaoui\, Untitled (from the Azimuth series\, 2012)
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/nja-mahdaoui-the-choreographer-of-letters/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Exhibition
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Nja-Mahdaoui-Untitled-3-from-the-Azimuth-series-2012.webp
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251007
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251008
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20250930T125044Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T125044Z
UID:10012783-1759795200-1759881599@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Nat Bowen: Chromology
DESCRIPTION:Known for works of glossy\, abstract resin poured on to acrylic\, Bowen creates luminous\, aqueous fields that transform colour into a language of emotion and presence. With this show\, says the gallery\, “viewers are invited into an intimate space of reflection\, where colour is not simply observed but experienced as a catalyst for calm and psychological resonance”. \nTo 26 October.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/nat-bowen-chromology/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Exhibition
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250831
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250901
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20250314T093154Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250314T094226Z
UID:10011793-1756598400-1756684799@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:LAST CHANCE The Prism: Project Oneness / Trust\, Gratitude\, and Love Journey
DESCRIPTION:“An immersive exploration of The Prism’s distinctive artistic vision … Going beyond aesthetics\, these exhibitions create emotionally and spiritually resonant experiences\, transforming light and space to challenge perceptions and inspire deep reflection … Through dynamic interplays of form\, colour\, and reflective surfaces\, the artworks invite viewers to become part of the composition\, fostering a profound connection with both the art and the world around them.” The Prism (aka Italian artist Stefano Simontacchi) has a series of reflective circular compositions that do indeed draw the viewer into their own environment; the show is curated by Marco Senaldi and presented in collaboration with the Italian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/last-chance-the-prism-project-oneness-trust-gratitude-and-love-journey/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Exhibition
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250503T150000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250503T163000
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20250429T071422Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250429T071422Z
UID:10011994-1746284400-1746289800@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Discover Kinusaiga: a Japanese Fabric Art Workshop
DESCRIPTION:Kinusaiga is a Japanese art formakin to collage or patchwork\, where fabric – originally silk – is wrapped around a carved wood or foam base to create images (often landscapes or patterns) without any need for traditional sewing. This hands-on workshop provides an introduction to this interesting and versatile art/craft; no prior experience is needed\, and all materials will be provided.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/discover-kinusaiga-a-japanese-fabric-art-workshop/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Textiles,Workshop
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250430T133000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250430T143000
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20250428T073548Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T080957Z
UID:10011971-1746019800-1746023400@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Gustave Caillebotte: The Unknown Impressionist
DESCRIPTION:Stéphanie Chardeau-Botteri\, art historian\, great-grandniece of the artist\, and author of a study of Caillebotte of the same name as the talk (it was shortlisted for the 2024 Goncourt Prize for biographies) discusses the life and legacy of the “unknown Impressionist” – celebrated in his time\, gradually relegated to the back rooms of art history\, now undergoing a renaissance in popularity and reappraisal of his legacy.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/gustave-caillebotte-the-unknown-impressionist/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Paris-Street-Rainy-Day-Gustave-Caillebotte-1877.webp
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250313
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250314
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20250311T135054Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250314T093105Z
UID:10011783-1741824000-1741910399@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:The Prism: Project Oneness / Trust\, Gratitude\, and Love Journey
DESCRIPTION:“An immersive exploration of The Prism’s distinctive artistic vision … Going beyond aesthetics\, these exhibitions create emotionally and spiritually resonant experiences\, transforming light and space to challenge perceptions and inspire deep reflection … Through dynamic interplays of form\, colour\, and reflective surfaces\, the artworks invite viewers to become part of the composition\, fostering a profound connection with both the art and the world around them.” The Prism (aka Italian artist Stefano Simontacchi) has a series of reflective circular compositions that do indeed draw the viewer into their own environment; the show is curated by Marco Senaldi and presented in collaboration with the Italian Embassy in Abu Dhabi\, and is accompanied by a public programme of yoga classes\, sound-healing sessions\, artist talks\, and workshops. To 31 August.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/the-prism-project-oneness-trust-gratitude-and-love-journey/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Exhibition
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250310T110000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250310T123000
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20250305T092701Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250305T175220Z
UID:10011767-1741604400-1741609800@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:The Art of Curation: Women at the Forefront of Cultural Dialogue
DESCRIPTION:A panel discussion in celebration of International Women’s Day\, featuring a group of top female curators with local connections. Speakers: \nSuheyla Takesh Director\, Barjeel Art Foundation\nPaz Monge Museum Curator\, Guggenheim\nChimere Cissé Founder\, Art|Kōrero and STELLA Alliance \nModerated by Michaela Watrelot\, Bassam Freiha Art Foundation curator.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/the-art-of-curation-women-at-the-forefront-of-cultural-dialogue/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Conversation
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250128T110000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250128T123000
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20250127T083608Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250127T144615Z
UID:10011284-1738062000-1738067400@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:The Power of Connection
DESCRIPTION:Subtitled ‘supporting art through patronage and collaboration’\, this ‘dialogue’ on how patronage shapes the UAE’s art scene features Stéphanie Oueda-Cruz – Tiffany & Co’s Global VP for Diversity\, Equity\, Inclusion & Belonging – in conversation with Michaela Watrelot\, Director of Exhibitions and Curator at Bassam Freiha Art Foundation.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/the-power-of-connection/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Conversation
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241014
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241015
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20240914T154027Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240914T154027Z
UID:10010590-1728864000-1728950399@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Hour Eternal – Emirati Abstraction
DESCRIPTION:An interesting show of works by 14 Emirati artists who have played a role in shaping contemporary art in the Emirates. Curated by Michaela Watrelot\, it has loans from the Ministry of Culture\, private collectors\, and the artists themselves. The curator says the pieces on display all reflect on the duality of time: it is both fleeting and everlasting. In particular\, the works deal with the relationship between time\, tradition and contemporary identity\, and by extension offer an insight into the wider cultural identity of the UAE. \nThe show does indeed include an impressive selection of big names from Emirati contemporary art. Among them are four of the ‘five’ – Hassan and Hussain Sharif\, Mohammed Kazem and Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim (only Abdullah Al Saadi is missing from that group). They’re joined by work from Abdul Qader Al Rais\, Mona Al Khaja\, Salma Al Marri\, Mohammed Al Qassab\, Abdulrahim Salem\, Noor Al Suwaidi\, Najat Makki\, Shaikha Al Mazrou\, Khalid Al Banna and Ebtisam Abdulaziz. \nTo mid February. \nAbove: Najat Makki\, Untitled (2006: courtesy UAE Ministry of Culture)
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/hour-eternal-emirati-abstraction/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Exhibition
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Najat-Makki-Untitled-2006.jpg
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240815
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240816
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20240409T124855Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240409T124855Z
UID:10008404-1723680000-1723766399@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:LAST CHANCE Echoes of the Orient
DESCRIPTION:The inaugural exhibition of the brand new Bassam Freiha Art Foundation is curated from the private collection of Bassam Said Freiha to offer a perspective into how the Middle East has been perceived\, portrayed and romanticised over time – particularly the depiction of femininity. The exhibition juxtaposes Western portrayals with works by Arab artists. Featured alongside works by Rudolphe Ernst\, Léon Comerre\, Paul Leroy\, Jan-Baptist Huysmans and Fabio Fabbi from the Bassam Freiha Collection are significant works on loan by Arab modernists\, including Habib Srour\, Moustafa Faroukh\, Cesar Gemayel\, Tawfik Tarek\, and early works by the acclaimed Emirati artist Abdul Qader Al Rais. \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/last-chance-echoes-of-the-orient/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Exhibition
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20240321T203000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20240321T213000
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20240314T160043Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240314T172238Z
UID:10008882-1711053000-1711056600@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Oriental and Orientalist: Two Worlds Apart
DESCRIPTION:A lecture by Saleh Barakat\, a Beirut-based gallerist (he founded Agial Art Gallery and then Saleh Barakat Gallery) who specialises in modern and contemporary art from the Arab world. His talk considers the way Western artists have portrayed the Middle East as contrasted with the vernacular perspectives of modern Arab artists. “Explore the nuanced similarities and stark differences that define and separate these artistic visions” say the organisers\, for whom this will be the first of a series of art history lectures.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/oriental-and-orientalist-two-worlds-apart/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Lecture
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20240306T183000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20240307T193000
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20240305T154804Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240305T154804Z
UID:10008492-1709749800-1709839800@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:The Female Gaze – Women in the Middle Eastern Art Scene
DESCRIPTION:A conversation in the recently inaugurated Bassam Freiha Art Foundation‘s Art Dialogues series\, featuring four Emirati artists – Najat Makki\, Latifa Saeed\, Sumayyah Al Suwaidi and Azza Al Qubaisi – and led by BFAF’s Curator\, Michaela Watrelot. Coinciding with International Women’s Day\, the discussion will consider the role of gender in art and honour the significant contributions of women to the Middle Eastern art scene.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/the-female-gaze-women-in-the-middle-eastern-art-scene/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Panel discussion
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240304
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240305
DTSTAMP:20260419T133244
CREATED:20240214T134050Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240214T134050Z
UID:10008403-1709510400-1709596799@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Echoes of the Orient
DESCRIPTION:The inaugural exhibition of the brand new Bassam Freiha Art Foundation is curated from the private collection of Bassam Said Freiha to offer a perspective into how the Middle East has been perceived\, portrayed and romanticised over time – particularly the depiction of femininity. As Prof Faredah Al-Murahhem notes: “Western Orientalists in the 19th century often fantasized about the harem and the veiled women\, leading to a skewed understanding of the concept”\, with paintings often presenting scenarios that were inauthentic or sensationalized from an Islamic viewpoint. \nTo challenge such stereotypes and in order to foster a deeper intercultural dialogue\, the exhibition juxtaposes Western portrayals with works by Arab artists. Featured alongside works by Rudolphe Ernst\, Léon Comerre\, Paul Leroy\, Jan-Baptist Huysmans and Fabio Fabbi from the Bassam Freiha Collection are significant works on loan by Arab modernists\, including Habib Srour\, Moustafa Faroukh\, Cesar Gemayel\, Tawfik Tarek\, and early works by the acclaimed Emirati artist Abdul Qader Al Rais. \nTo 15 August. \nAbove: Rudolf Ernst (1854–1932)\, Odalisque (undated) \n 
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/echoes-of-the-orient/
LOCATION:Bassam Freiha Art Foundation\, Cultural District Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi
CATEGORIES:Art,Exhibition
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/rudolf-ernst.jpeg
GEO:24.5335392;54.4095952
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Cultural District Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Cultural District Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4095952,24.5335392
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR