ANDRÉE SFEIR-SEMLER RECEIVES THE ART COLOGNE AWARD FOR ART COMMUNICATION

Since the 1990s, contemporary art in the Arab world has undergone a remarkable transformation—marked by new institutions, biennials, collections, and a generation of artists who have profoundly reshaped the global art canon. A new landmark publication, edited by this year’s ART COLOGNE Award laureate Andrée Sfeir-Semler, now offers the first comprehensive overview of this development and its protagonists.

The extensive anthology The Rise of Arab Art traces the emergence of the Arab art scene, from its beginnings in the 1990s to its current international presence. It explores the aesthetic, political, and social dynamics that have shaped the rise of Arab art, illuminating a region whose creative energy is increasingly shaping global
perspectives on contemporary art.

A fundamental reference book on art, identity, and cultural transformation in 21st century

Edited by the renowned gallerist Andrée Sfeir-Semler, who has been acting as an important link between East and West through her galleries in Hamburg and Beirut, the nearly 600-page volume brings together essays by around 40 leading museum directors, curators, and artists, including Richard Armstrong (Guggenheim Museum, New York), Hans Ulrich Obrist (Serpentine Gallery, London), Zeina Arida (Mathaf, Doha), Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev (dOCUMENTA 13), and Wael Shawky (Art Basel Qatar).

With The Rise of Arab Art, Andrée Sfeir-Semler presents a seminal work—a fundamental reference book on art, identity, and cultural transformation in the 21st century.

Andrée Sfeir-Semler is a pioneer in mediating between Western and Arab contemporary art. For four decades, she has shaped international discourse through her galleries and paved the way for numerous artists from the region to enter museums and collections worldwide. In her galleries in Hamburg and Beirut, she represents Etel Adnan, Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Yto Barrada, Rabih Mroué, Walid Raad, Akram Zaatari, among others.

ART COLOGNE Award for Art Communication

On November 7, 2025, Andrée Sfeir-Semler will receive the ART COLOGNE Award for Art Communication in Cologne—an award that recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the visibility and education of contemporary art. With this honor, the jury recognizes Sfeir-Semler’s long-standing commitment, her visionary gallery work, and her significant role to bringing the art of the Arab world into the international spotlight.