Ink & Pencil

Drawing-based works that emphasize line, gesture, and the immediacy of the artist's hand. From the quick observational sketches of Iraqi modernists in their notebooks to the finished ink works of contemporary Arab draftsmen, drawings often capture an artist's practice at its most intimate. Egyptian pioneer Ragheb Ayad's pen-and-ink studies, Iraqi master Rafa Nasiri's poetry illustrations, and the contemporary draftsmen of the Saudi and Emirati scenes have all contributed to a strong regional tradition of works on paper. Increasingly recognized by collectors as standalone works — not just studies for larger paintings — Arab drawings represent one of the most rapidly appreciating categories of modern and contemporary work.