Independent 20th Century Fair Highlights Overlooked Arab Women Artists in New York

The fourth edition of Independent 20th Century was held at Casa Cipriani in Manhattan, emphasizing art from the twentieth century and highlighting marginalized artists. Among the 31 exhibitors, Salon 94 featured Arab women artists such as Dorothy Salhab Kazemi, Huguette Caland, and Afaf Zurayk. Kazemi's clay sculptures from the 1970s embody ecofeminism, while Caland's 1979 piece Accroupie delves into corporeality, and Zurayk's artworks showcase delicate copper and blue tones. Richard Saltoun exhibited works by Algerian artist Baya (Fatma Haddad Mahieddine), including Femme à l'Oiseau (1985). Founder Elizabeth Dee highlighted the necessity of visibility for remote artists, citing the Musée d'Art Moderne's Arab Presences exhibition. Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn is set to host a solo show of Caland's late 1960s works this autumn to enhance recognition of overlooked art histories.