Abu Dhabi is set to witness one of the most significant cultural moments in the region’s art history as the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation hosts Sotheby’s most valuable exhibition ever presented in the Middle East. Taking place on October 1 and 2, the showcase brings together six extraordinary masterpieces collectively valued at approximately $150 million, marking Sotheby’s first public fine art exhibition in the UAE.
Edvard Munch's St John's Night / Midsummer Night's Eve
This landmark event underscores Abu Dhabi’s fast-growing position as a global cultural capital, adding to its impressive portfolio of institutions, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the highly anticipated Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Vincent van Gogh, Romans Parisiens (Les Livres jaunes), 1887. Photo: Sotheby's
Once-in-a-Lifetime Presentation
The exhibition features iconic works by Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Frida Kahlo, René Magritte, Camille Pissarro, and Edvard Munch, none of which have ever been shown in the Middle East. Several pieces have been hidden from public view for decades, making their arrival on Saadiyat Island a moment of rare artistic significance. Following their debut in Abu Dhabi, the artworks will travel to London and Paris before being auctioned in New York at Sotheby’s new headquarters in the historic Breuer building this November.
Frida Kahlo's El sueno (La cama), 1940. Photo: Sotheby's
Masterpieces at the Forefront
Among the highlights is Van Gogh’s Romans Parisiens (Les Livres jaunes) (1887), a luminous and intimate still life of books with an estimated value of $40 million. Equally notable is Frida Kahlo’s deeply personal self-portrait El sueño (La cama) (1940), expected to achieve between $40 million and $60 million, a figure that could set a groundbreaking auction record for any female artist.
Also featured are:
- Paul Gauguin’s La Maison de Pen du, gardeuse de vache (1889)
- René Magritte’s enigmatic Le Jockey Perdu
- Edvard Munch’s evocative St. John’s Night (Midsummer Night’s Eve)
- Camille Pissarro’s Bords de l’Oise à Pontoise (1872)
Many of the works originate from prestigious private collections, including those of Cindy and Jay Pritzker, renowned philanthropists and founders of the Pritzker Architecture Prize.
Paul Gauguin's La Maison de Pen du, gardeuse de vache, 1889. Photo: Sotheby's
A Cultural Milestone for the UAE
Katia Nounou Boueiz, Head of Sotheby’s UAE, described the event as “a true milestone , the most extensive and valuable Sotheby’s has ever staged in the Middle East.” Julian Dawes, Head of Impressionist and Modern Art at Sotheby’s, added that bringing these masterworks together in the region was “an opportunity we couldn’t miss.”
Rene Magritte's Le Jockey Perdu. Photo: Sotheby's
Their statements reflect the growing significance of Abu Dhabi as an international meeting point for artists, collectors, and cultural institutions.
Camille Pissarro's Bords de l’Oise a Pontoise, 1872. Photo: Sotheby's
A New Chapter for Art in the Region
With masterpieces by some of the most influential artists in history, this exhibition not only enriches the UAE’s artistic landscape but also reinforces its status as a destination where global culture and creativity converge.