Christie’s will hold its first Modern and contemporary Middle Eastern art sale in London this October following the decision to move the sale from Dubai. The evening sale on 25 October will take place during what is traditionally known as Islamic Art Week, now rebranded by Christie’s as Middle Eastern Art Week, joining Sotheby’s existing Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern art sales that week. The equivalent Bonhams auction follows in November.
The decision to move the sale to London is part of a strategy to “internationalise the market further for Middle Eastern art”, says Michael Jeha, Christie’s managing director and deputy chairman, Middle East. “We now sell around 30% of our Dubai sales to international buyers,” he says. However, most bid remotely.