Biography
Abed Al Kadiri, born in Beirut, is a multidisciplinary artist, publisher, and curator who has significantly influenced the development and promotion of art from the Arab region. He holds degrees in Arabic Literature and Fine Arts from the Lebanese University. Following the 2006 Lebanon War, he moved to Kuwait, where he worked as an art critic and founded the FA Gallery in 2010. Two years later, he became the Director of Contemporary Art Platform (CAP) Kuwait, where he curated numerous exhibitions, developed arts education programs, and established transcultural exchanges with galleries across Asia, Europe, and the wider region.
Al Kadiri’s artistic works focus on themes of censorship, occupation, migration, globalization, and their discontents. His mixed-media series, *States of Anxiety* (2014), utilizes ink and cigarette ashes on tissue to create abstract, distorted portraits that reflect the psychological burdens of contemporary conflict. His recent solo exhibitions include *Diaries of the Lebanese Revolution* at Cromwell Place, London (2021), and *Today, I Would Like to be a Tree* at Galerie Tanit, Beirut (2020). His work is included in prestigious collections such as The British Museum, Institut du Monde Arabe, and The World Bank.
In addition to his artistic practice, Al Kadiri co-founded Dongola Limited Editions, a pioneering publishing house that promotes artist’s books from the Arab world as contemporary artistic practices. He continues to split his time between Paris and Beirut, contributing significantly to the discourse on contemporary Arab art through his diverse artistic endeavors and curatorial roles.
Artwork
