First selected galleries of BEIRUT ART FAIR 2019

BEIRUT ART FAIR is proud to announce the first wave of participating galleries for its 10-year anniversary edition, taking place September 18/22 at the Seaside Arena in the Lebanese capital. The Fair commits to its role of international cultural incubator, in the perspective of discovering emerging artists and rediscovering historical ones. This first selection includes 30 distinguished Lebanese and international galleries, a diverse roster featuring thrilling emerging artists, as well as established ones with an international recognition throughout important museums and biennials. Representing 16 countries, the galleries reflect BEIRUT ART FAIR's focus on rising international contemporary art and on presenting to collectors cutting-edge painting, sculpture, installations, photography and new media from around the globe.

While the MENA region continues to have a strong presence at BEIRUT ART FAIR, the fair also gives prominence to Europe and the United States, alongside a significant representation of African artists. It also naturally embraces leading Lebanese galleries with a significant artistic impact, and 10 of them, so far, will present artists in September  – Agial Art Gallery, Banzy Gallery, CUB Gallery, Emmagoss, Galerie Janine Rubeiz with Rose Issa Projects (London), Lebanese Talents, Letitia Gallery, Marfa', Mark Hachem, and South Border Gallery.

13 galleries from around the world have returned strongly, several of them marking their third, or more, participation. Beirut's Agial Art Gallery is back with celebrated Lebanese painters Nabil Nahas, Mohammad El Rawas, and Nadia Safieddine, and Palestinian sculptor Abdulrahman Katanani. Paris's In Situ - Fabienne Leclerc will feature Lebanon's Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige, as well as American-Lebanese Daniele Genadry, whose work was recently acquired by the Jameel Arts Center in Dubai. Beirut's CUB Gallery reiterates its commitment to supporting emerging artists in Lebanon, and Janine Rubeiz with Rose Issa Projects will exhibit Iranian multidisciplinary artist Farhad Ahrarnia. Reflecting BEIRUT ART FAIR's dedication to the discovery of international art, Minsk's A&V Art Gallery also returns, as well as Yerevan's Aramé Art Gallery, and Beirut's South Border Gallery, who puts the spotlight on the South American scene.
 

Alongside returning exhibitors, the Fair welcomes 17 galleries for the first time, among them Galleria Continua, with a presence in Italy, France, Cuba and China, who will come to the fair with a special project: an Afro-cuban booth questioning our modern society and its development. Cuban artist Carlos Garaicoa will present his vision of twentieth-century modern architecture through installations, while emerging artist José Yaque will invite us into his ethereal landscapes, thereby spurring a dialogue with the immersive and political works of Egyptian Moataz Nasr (who represented Egypt at the 57th Venice Biennale) and Cameroonian Pascale Marthine Tayou, which draw from the artists’ heritage. Paris's kamel mennour, who will feature world-renowned Franco-Algerian multidisciplinary artist and Marcel Duchamp prize nominee Neïl Beloufa, Polish-German visual artist Alicja Kwade, and American abstract painter and sculptor, SFMOMA prize winner Liam Everett. San Francisco's Essa Muhammad will present works created especially for the fair by ascending MENA region artists such as Yemeni Nasser Al Aswadi, India-born and Kuwait-based Ghadah Alkandari, and Kuwaiti Alymamah Rashed. Milan's Primo Marella Gallery will showcase Joël Andrianomearisoa, who represented Madagascar at this year's Venice biennale, alongside celebrated Malian artist Abdoulaye Konaté, and Angolian Januario Jano. Likewise, Barcelona's OOA - Out of Africa will put the spotlight on contemporary African Art. Meanwhile, Paris'sgb Agency will be honoring seminal Emirati artist Hassan Sharif (1951-2016), whose works now belong to major collections such as the Guggenheim's and Doha's Mathaf. Beirut's Lebanese Talents associated with digital platform Banzy Gallery share a commitment to the vanguard with France's L'Agence à Paris and Amman's Karim Gallery.