Abdulnasser Gharem (born 4 June 1973) is a Saudi Arabian artist and also a lieutenant colonel in the Saudi Arabian army. In April 2011, his installation ''Message/Messenger'' sold for a world record price at auction in Dubai.
, Al Arabiya News, 28 November 2011. Gharem's work is in the collections of the

British Museum The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It docum ...

, the

Victoria & Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and nam ...

Los Angeles County Museum of Art The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is an art museum located on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile, Los Angeles, California, Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles. LACMA is on Museum Row, adjacent to the La Brea Tar Pits (George C. Pa ...

and the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture and Information, His artwork is characterized by innovative use of materials, including rubber stamps, a collapsed bridge, and an invasive tree.

Early life and education

Gharem was born in Khamis Mushait. In 1992 Gharem graduated from the King Abdulaziz Academy before attending The Leader Institute in

Riyadh Riyadh (, ar, الرياض, 'ar-Riyāḍ, lit.: 'The Gardens' Najdi pronunciation: ), formerly known as Hajr al-Yamamah, is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the R ...

. He has had no formal art training. In 2003 Gharem studied at the Al-Meftaha Arts Village in Abha.

Career

In 2004 Gharem and the Al-Meftaha artists staged a group exhibition, Shattah. in Saudi Arabia. Since then Gharem has exhibited in

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

, the

Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf ( fa, خلیج فارس, translit=xalij-e fârs, lit=Gulf of Persis, Fars, ), sometimes called the ( ar, اَلْخَلِيْجُ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Khalīj al-ˁArabī), is a Mediterranean sea (oceanography), me ...

and the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, including at Martin Gropius-Bau and at the

Venice Biennial The Venice Biennale (; it, La Biennale di Venezia) is an international cultural exhibition hosted annually in Venice, Italy by the Biennale Foundation. The biennale has been organised every year since 1895, which makes it the oldest of ...

Sharjah Biennial The Sharjah Biennial is a large-scale contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in the city of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The first Sharjah Biennial took place in 1993, and was organized by the Sharjah Department of Cul ...

and Berlin Biennale. His first monograph ‘Abdulnasser Gharem: Art of Survival’ was published in London in October 2011. In 2014 Gharem lives and works in Riyadh. He is the co-founder of the arts initiative

Edge of Arabia Edge of Arabia is an independent arts initiative developing the appreciation of contemporary Arab art and culture with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia. As a social enterprise ''Edge of Arabia'' is committed to reaching new audiences and impro ...

. Gharem donated the proceeds of his sale to Edge of Arabia to foster art education in his native country.

Selected group shows

2004 - 2009

* Shattah – Atelier Gallery, Jeddah (27 Apr -14 May 2004) * Son of Aseer – Al-Meftaha Arts Village, Abha (10 Oct-30 Oct 2006) * Still Life: Art, Ecology and the Politics of Change –

8 (4 Apr-4 Jun 2007) * Edge of Arabia London: Contemporary Art from Saudi Arabia –

SOAS SOAS University of London (; the School of Oriental and African Studies) is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the federal University of London. Founded in 1916, SOAS is located in the Bloomsbury are ...

Brunei Gallery,

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...

(16 Oct-13 Dec 2008) * The 28th Annual Exhibition – Gulf Fine Arts Society, Sharjah (March 2009) *

Venice – Palazzo Contarini Polignac, 53rd

Venice Biennale The Venice Biennale (; it, La Biennale di Venezia) is an international cultural exhibition hosted annually in Venice, Italy by the Biennale Foundation. The biennale has been organised every year since 1895, which makes it the oldest of ...

(5 Jun-2 Aug 2009)

2010

Istanbul: TRANSiTION – Sanat Limani, Antrepo 5 (10 Nov-10 Dec) * Opening the Doors: Collecting Middle Eastern Art,

Abu Dhabi Art Abu Dhabi Art is an art fair that takes place every November in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, featuring art gallerias, art and design foundations, as well as additional educational programming and talks. History Organized by Abu Dhabi Authori ...

(3 Nov-7 Nov) * CAVE: Contemporary Arab Video Encounter – Maraya Arts Centre, Sharjah (2 Nov-11 Dec) * Emerging Asian Artists,

Gwangju Biennale The Gwangju Biennale is a contemporary art biennale founded in September 1995 in Gwangju, South Jeolla province, South Korea. The Gwangju Biennale is hosted by the Gwangju Biennale Foundation and the city of Gwangju. The Gwangju Biennale Founda ...

(1 Sep-5 Sep) * Edge of Arabia Berlin: Grey Borders/Grey Frontiers –

Soho House Soho House is a museum run by Birmingham Museums Trust, celebrating Matthew Boulton's life, his partnership with James Watt, his membership of the Lunar Society of Birmingham and his contribution to the Midlands Enlightenment and the Indu ...

, Berlin (9 Jun-18 Jul) * Fuck Ups, Fables and Fiascos – Galerie Caprice Horn, Berlin (8 Jun-17 Sep) *

World Tour Launch – Global Competitiveness Forum, Riyadh (23 Jan-26 Jan) * Taswir: Pictorial Mappings of Islam and Modernity – Martin Gropius-Bau, Berlin (5 Nov ((2009)) -18 Jan)

2011

* Political Patterns – ifa-Galerie, Berlin (8 Jul-3 Oct) * The Future of a Promise: Contemporary Art from the Arab World – Magazzini del Sale, 54th

(1 Jun-27 Nov) * The Bravery of Being Out of Range – Athr Gallery, Jeddah (24 May-18 Jun) * The New Middle East – Willem Baars Projects, Amsterdam (31 May-30 July) *

Dubai: TERMINAL – Building 9, Gate Village, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai (14 Mar-15 Apr) * Uppers & Downers – Traffic, Dubai (9 Feb-5 Mar) * Nujoom: Constellations of Arab Art from The Farjam Collection – The Farjam Collection @ DIFC, Dubai (1 Nov ((2010)) - Mar 2011) * I Don’t Need Your Money Honey All I Need is Love – Traffic, Dubai (5 Jan –27 Jan)

2012

* Arab Express: The Latest Art From the Arab World -

Mori Art Museum The is a contemporary art museum founded by the real estate developer Minoru Mori (1934–2012) in the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower in the Roppongi Hills complex both of which he built in Tokyo, Japan. The exterior architect of the museum's gall ...

, Tokyo, Japan (16 Jun - 28 Oct) * Porta dell'Oriente - Roma Contemporary, Italy (25-27 May) * Bending History - Katara Galleries,

Katara Cultural Village Katara Mosque Katara Cultural Village, also called Katara, is a cultural and commercial complex in Doha, Qatar, located on the eastern coast between West Bay and the Pearl. It was soft-opened in October 2010 during the Doha Tribeca Film Fest ...

, Doha, Qatar (8 Mar - 8 April) * Hajj, Journey to the Heart of Islam –

, London (26 Jan-15 Apr) * Edge of Arabia – Al Furusia Marina, Jeddah (20 Jan-26 Feb) * Contemporary Istanbul - Turkey ( 22-25 Nov) * Light from the Middle East: New Photography -

, London (13 Nov - 7 April 2013) * La voce delle immagini -

Palazzo Grassi Palazzo Grassi (also known as the Palazzo Grassi-Stucky) is a building in the Venetian Classical style located on the Grand Canal of Venice (Italy), between the Palazzo Moro Lin and the campo San Samuele. History First owners During the 16th cen ...

- Venice, Italy (30 Aug- 13 Jan 2012)

Collections

The British Museum The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It documen ...

The Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and nam ...

LACMA The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is an art museum located on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles. LACMA is on Museum Row, adjacent to the La Brea Tar Pits (George C. Page Museum). LACMA was founded in 1961, ...

, Los Angeles County Museum of Art * The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture and Information * The Jameel Foundation * Nadour Collection * Greenbox MuseumGreenbox Museum, dictionary of Saudi Arabian artists
/ref> * The Barjeel Art Foundation * The Farook Collection * The Farjam Collection * Kamel Lazaar Foundation * BASMOCA, Basma Alsulaiman Museum of Contemporary Art

Publications

* Hemming, Henry. Abdulnasser Gharem: Art of Survival (London: Booth-Clibborn, 2011) * Jameel, Porter, King, Stapleton, Al-Turki. Edge of Arabia: Contemporary Art from Saudi Arabia (London: Booth Clibborn, 2012) * Porter, Venetia. Hajj, journey to the heart of Islam (London: Harvard University Press, 2012) * Lazaar, Lina and Downey, Anthony. The Future of a Promise (London: Ibraaz, 2011)

References

External links

Abdulnasser Gharem official website

''Edge of Arabia'' Official Website

EOA.Projects Official Website

The Crossway Foundation Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gharem, Abdulnasser 1973 births Living people Saudi Arabian artists