MIDDLE EAST

Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art

Millon stands out as the sole auction house organizing specialized sales of Modern & Contemporary Middle Eastern Art, providing unparalleled expertise and market knowledge in this field in Europe. Since its inclusion in the Paris auction calendar in 2021, Millon has consistently achieved exceptional results for artists in this category. Our sales of modern and contemporary Middle Eastern art have consistently attracted significant interest and proven successful.

This dynamic and exciting sector, featuring renowned masters from the Middle East, is led by Zahra Jahan-Bakhsh Devinoy. If you wish to inquire about the possibility of offering a work in one of Millon's Modern and Contemporary Arab, Iranian & Turkish Art sales, please contact the department.

A department born of passion

The increasing recognition of Middle Eastern artists within Western artistic circles and institutions inspired Millon to showcase established and emerging talents from Arab, Iranian, and Turkish backgrounds on the international art market.

The Middle East Department has made remarkable progress, not only by orchestrating successful auctions but also by organizing a multitude of artistic events that have effectively raised awareness among the general public. This achievement stems from harmonious collaboration among artists, galleries, collectors, institutions, and notably, the estates of artists originating from the Middle East and North Africa throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

Despite its formal establishment, Millon has actively fostered and contributed to the development of the Arab and Iranian art markets since 2012. This commitment reached its peak with the inaugural sale in Dubai at the Ritz-Carlton, a tradition continued since July 2023 in Beirut.

Middle-East Sales: Modern and Contemporary Arab, Iranian, and Turkish Art

Increasingly, prominent names from the Middle East are asserting themselves on the international stage, and Millon is proud to represent them through its dedicated Middle-East sales.

We collaborate with galleries and collectors primarily based in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) but also in Europe and the rest of the world.

Since its inception, the department has achieved record-breaking prices for innovative artists such as Chafic Abboud, Georges Hanna Sabbagh, Adam Henien, Alfred Basbous, Behjat Sadr, Fatma Baya, Mahjoub Ben Bella, Paul Guiragossian, Fateh Moudarres, Mansour Ghandriz, Mohsen Vaziri-Moghadam, Manoucher Yektai, and many others.

Results

Prominent names shine at auctions under our hammer:

• "Still Life with plants" by Manoucher Yektai, an Iranian artist, sold for 130,000 euros.
• "L'Ebloui (The Dazzled)"by Chafic Abboud, a Lebanese artist, sold for 110,000 euros.
• "Egyptienne" by Georges Hanna Sabbagh, an Egyptian artist, sold for 100,000 euros.
• "Raise (Erfao)" by Shakir Hassan Al Said, an Iraqi artist, sold for 64,000 euros.

• "S.A TAEF" by Aref El-Rayess, a Lebanese artist, sold for 50,000 euros.

   

These examples, among others, demonstrate the enthusiasm these sales generate. The unique specialization of Middle-East sales appeals to a discerning audience eager for rare artworks.

Services

Would you like to estimate a piece? Our teams provide a free and entirely confidential estimate upon request.

In addition to auctions, our offices in Beirut and Paris facilitate private sales and organize exhibitions, whether selling or non-selling, featuring works by contemporary Arab, Iranian, and Turkish artists. The presented artworks span from the early 20th century to the present day.