Art Galleries in Kuwait

According to Iridescent Kuwait by Laura Hindelang, “in March 1969, Kuwait’s, and in the fact the Gulf’s, first art gallery opened in the iconic Thunayan Al Ghanim building on the roundabout leading to Fahad al-Salem Street with a show of works by Munira al-Kazi (Kuwait) and Issam al-Said (Iraq). The Sultan Gallery… would continue to show “modern young Arab artists” and sometimes also Western artists, such as Andy Warhol in 1977, to create networks of artistic exchange across the Arab world and beyond.” Here are the art galleries in Kuwait today:

The Sultan Gallery: “a Kuwaiti based and operated non profit gallery established in 1969,” now located in Subhan, weekdays 10AM-3PM. Below you can see photos from the shows of Aziz Motawa and Deema Alghunaim

Dar Al Funoon: “Contemporary Art Gallery in Kuwait since 1992,” located in the Behbehani Complex

Contemporary Art Platform: “Dedicated to supporting the arts in Kuwait,” located in Shuwaikh

Sadu House: a museum that is “Preserving & Promoting Kuwait’s Textile Heritage,” they often have exhibits including the annual Sadu Art and Design Initiative or “SADI.” The piece below is by Noor Al Fayez. Located in Kuwait City, 8 am – 1 pm, 4-8 pm • Closed on Fridays

Caffeine: a coffee shop in Shuwaikh that sometimes has art exhibits, including by Zahra Marwan, Huda Abdulmughni, and Ghadah Alkandari

Masaha Studio: “A creative space housing creatives,” located at Souq Al Wataniya

Modern Art Museum: opened in 2003, the Modern Art Museum is housed within a former school that was built in 1939. The museum has many pieces by Sami Mohammed, including a piece entitled “Break Through.” Sami says this is one of his favorite pieces and that, “through this sculpture I tell people that they should not give up, no matter what their problems are, till they reach their desired goals.” The image of the watercolor is by Zahra Marwan and it depicts, “Kuwaiti artist Sami Mohammed making his first sculpture from beach stones in Al-Sharq in 1952 as a young teenager.” You can also see Sami’s sculpture “Paralysis and Resistance” at the museum, which he says, “encapsulates a library of freedom in one work.” The last photograph shows Sami Mohammed talking with Andy Warhol when he visited Kuwait in the 1970s.